Georgia Rent Increase Rules

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a licensed attorney in Georgia for advice specific to your situation. Information last verified: March 2026.

Georgia is one of the most landlord-friendly states in the nation when it comes to rent increases. There is no statewide rent control in Georgia, and state law actively prohibits local governments from enacting their own rent control ordinances (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19).

This means landlords have broad freedom to set and increase rents, subject only to the terms of the existing lease and basic notice requirements.

The Absence of Rent Control

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19 explicitly states that no county or municipality in Georgia may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would regulate the amount of rent to be charged for private residential or commercial property. This statewide preemption ensures landlords have uniform freedom across all Georgia jurisdictions.

Notice Requirements for Rent Increases

During a Fixed-Term Lease

A landlord cannot increase the rent during an active fixed-term lease unless the lease agreement explicitly contains a mid-term rent escalation clause.

Month-to-Month Tenancies

For tenancies at will (month-to-month), a landlord must provide the tenant with at least 60 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7). The tenant must also provide 30 days' notice if they intend to vacate.

Upon Lease Renewal

When a fixed-term lease approaches its expiration, the landlord can propose a new rental rate as part of the renewal terms. It is best practice to provide the tenant with notice of the new rate at least 60 days before the current lease expires, giving them adequate time to decide whether to renew or move.

Prohibited Reasons for Rent Increases

While there is no cap on the amount, Georgia landlords are prohibited from increasing rent for retaliatory or discriminatory reasons:

• Retaliation: Raising rent because a tenant filed a legitimate complaint with a housing authority or exercised a legal right (like requesting a repair) is illegal.
• Discrimination: Raising rent based on a tenant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status violates the federal Fair Housing Act and the Georgia Fair Housing Act.

Notable Local Ordinances

While local governments cannot impose rent control, some municipalities have enacted tenant protection ordinances. For example, the City of Atlanta requires 60 days' notice for rent increases exceeding 5% for tenants who have resided in a property for more than 12 months. Landlords should always check for local regulations in their specific municipality.

See our Eviction Process guide for what to do if a tenant refuses to pay the increased rent.

How Landager Helps Georgia Landlords

Landager's portfolio management tools allow Georgia landlords to track lease expiration dates across all properties and automatically generate 60-day rent increase notice letters based on your predefined market targets. Our system flags any properties in jurisdictions with specific local ordinances (like Atlanta's 5% threshold) to ensure full compliance before the notice is sent.

Back to Georgia Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview.