FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Restaurants may serve to-go orders only.

No. Certain charges require a court appearance and carry a fine that is judge-imposed.

Recyclables must only be dropped off during the hours of the event. Early drop-offs are not possible.

Yes. Outdoor exercise like running or taking a walk is perfectly acceptable; however, exercise gyms, fitness centers and associated facilities will be closed to reduce the spread of coronavirus. While exercising outside, you should still practice social distancing by running or walking at least six feet away from other people.

Yes. You may accomplish this by speaking to the Solicitor/Prosecutor. This may only be done on your assigned court date by asking for a pre-trial after the Judge calls your name during calendar call. The Solicitor will be in the court room approximately 15 - 30 minutes before court begins to work with the attorneys. The Solicitor will be available to all who would like to speak to them in regards to their case.

If the violation is not a “must appear” offense, you may pay the fine to avoid an appearance in court. By paying the fine, the court will notate the case as a 'Bond Forfeiture' - (meaning as the defendant, you have remitted payment of fine in lieu of appearing in court to contest the charge of the citation). Bond Forfeitures are viewed as a guilty plea and if the charge is a reportable offense, the record will be transmitted to the Georgia Department of Driver Services and treated as such on your drivers record. Citations are typically processed and available for payment online within 2 - 3 business days of your violation. Online payments must be made at least 24 hours prior to your court date. You may also pay in person between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. up until your court date. If you fail to pay your fine by one of these methods and do not appear in court on your court date, you may be placed in Failure to Appear status and your driver license may be subject for suspension or Failure to Appear bench warrant issued for your arrest.

No. The city does not know how much your second installment tax bill will be each year until October 20.

Yes. Certain offenses are eligible for a jury trial. The judge will sign an order for your case to be transferred and heard in the State Court of DeKalb County upon request prior to hearing any details of your case.

It is your responsibility to clean your hard drive with one of the programs available commercially or for free on the Internet. Owners should be aware that there are risks of private or other information being pulled from laptop drives, and that therefore the donor assumes such risks and waives all liability for any potential disclosure of private, personal, financial, etc. information that may be extracted from the laptop by third parties who end up with the laptop, etc.

National studies have repeatedly shown that stop signs only slow vehicles as they approach the intersection, rather than reducing the overall speed of the corridor. Drivers feel the need to make up for lost time from stopping, thus resulting in higher speeds immediately after the intersection.

Look at the exemptions column of your tax bill. You have the basic homestead exemption if a figure of $40,000 is in the exemptions column on three rows of your bill. If you have all zeroes in the exemptions column, you do not have the basic homestead exemption. If you have school-related exemptions, the school line item on your tax bill will show reduced or no school taxes, but you will continue owing taxes for the school bond line item.

If you’re not sure what age-based homestead exemptions you have, please call 404-370-4100 or visit City Hall for help. Visit: decaturga.com/homestead for more information and links to exemption applications.

No. Paying through a PayPal account may be an option, but it is not required. You can pay by Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, e-check, etc.

Property owners in the Decatur city limits that would like to remove dead, diseased, or hazardous (DDH) tree/s with moderate or higher risk rating and a target present must have a tree assessment report from a certified arborist to file for a tree removal permit through our online permitting system. For homeowners with a dead tree please visit decaturga.com/trees and fill out the dead tree affirmation form and email it to Treepermits [at] decaturga.com (Treepermits[at]decaturga[dot]com).

Be aware that residential or commercial zoned properties that are pending demolition, building, landscaping, ground installation of utilities, land development or parking lot renovation, are subject to the tree removal permit requirements and a tree removal permit must be obtained in addition to a building, utility, or land disturbance permit. A tree conservation and planting plan will be required.

A pre-application meeting must be held with the city arborist prior to filing for any site development, building, plumbing, pool, or utility permit that proposes to remove trees or disturb the critical root zones of any protected tree.

The property owners of rental apartment communities pay property taxes and the recover the cost of property taxes through their rental rates. In fact, rental communities pay more real estate taxes than homeowners because of the inability to apply homeowner tax exemptions and the property is assessed at the higher commercial tax rate.

No. The city no longer accept payments with summary bills or statements that are created in-house by law firms or banks. All payments made by check must include the remittance coupon provided with the paper bill (or e-bill from decaturgatax.com) to ensure timely and accurate posting of your payment. Checks must include the property ID and the tax year for which the payment is being made.

Studies show that lower-income residents own fewer cars and drive less often than those in residents with higher-incomes. Traffic is exacerbated by car commutes, often due to local employees commuting into a city for work. Steps to reduce traffic often include encouraging walking or biking for inter-city travel, locating dense housing near transit stations, and ensuring housing choices are available for those who work in a community to live near their jobs. Enabling those who work in a community to live there shortens commutes and lessens congestion. New housing near transit stations supports the increased use of public transportation, thereby lessening the number of vehicles on local roads and often reducing the amount of space that must be utilized for parking. Source: California Planning Roundtable HCD (2002). Myths and Facts about Affordable & High Density Housing; Obrinsky, M. & Stein, D. (2007). Overcoming Opposition to Multifamily Rental Housing.

Streets are swept once a month during the Fall/Winter season to keep Decatur clean and prevent debris from entering the storm drains, which flow directly into local waterways. Use the Street Cleaning Search to determine when your street is scheduled to be swept.

No. It is easiest for us if the items are not boxed or bagged. If you want to go the extra mile, clip power cords and bring the cords and equipment.

Through the DeKalb County tax assessors office. All properties in Decatur are assessed by the county. The city has no assessor, appraiser, influence, expertise, or authority over assessments. The city receives values from the county and is bound by those values for tax purposes.

You can pull City tax records, print a bill or receipt, or make a tax payment with a 2.5% plus 30¢ third-party processing fee online at decaturtax.com

Disposal of hazardous household material is handled by DeKalb County. For more information on hazardous waste events, visit the DeKalb County Sanitation Event Schedule.

The City Sanitation service collects bulky items like furniture and appliances as a part of regular sanitation services. A $50 service fee is required for items containing freon. Up to 4 tires will be picked up as a part of regular sanitation services.

The City does not provide garbage bins. Residents have access to a free green commingled recycling bin and red glass recycling bin for pick up or delivery by contacting the Public Works Department at 404-377-5571. For customers who prefer a larger container, 95-gallon blue carts for the collection of approved commingled materials may be purchased at Intown Ace Hardware.

The process for speed limit reduction is overseen by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). The first step in reducing a street’s speed limit is to determine the 85th percentile speeds by means of a speed study. If the majority of the traffic is driving at speed 5 mph or more under the posted speed limit, an Engineering Investigation Report is submitted to GDOT for approval.

There are thousands of properties with Decatur mailing addresses that are actually located outside of Decatur’s city limits in unincorporated DeKalb County. Properties in unincorporated DeKalb County do not receive services from the City of Decatur and are not subject to city taxes. About 99 percent of residences in Decatur’s city limits have a ZIP code of 30030, and about 90 percent of properties in Decatur have 3-digit street numbers. If you have a ZIP code other than 30030, or a 4-digit street number, there’s a fair chance that you’re not actually in the city. You can look at a map here, or search for the property on the DeKalb County tax commissioner’s website to confirm whether you are within city limits. If the property is in tax district 4, it’s in unincorporated DeKalb County. Tax district 92 is Decatur.

You may hire a private attorney to represent your case and have them file an Entry of Appearance with the court. However, if you cannot afford an attorney, and would like for the court to appoint you a Public Defender/ court appointed attorney; will be required to complete an application for a Public Defender. The Judge will review your application and interview you under oath to determine eligibility under Federal guidelines to have a court appointed attorney/ Public Defender appointed to represent you in your case. A fifty dollar ($50.00) application fee may be assessed to your case upon adjudication at the discretion of the Court.

These code violations can be reported by submitting a Maintenance Request.

Contact the Design, Environment and Construction Division at 404-377-6198.

Graffiti on public property can be reported by submitting a Maintenance Request. Graffiti on private property must be handled by the property owner.

Roadway and sidewalk issues can be reported to the City by submitting a Maintenance Request.

The installation of an all-way stop sign is dictated by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD requires specific warrants to be met in order to install an all-way stop at an intersection. Thus an all-way stop sign is not always feasible to address speeding and pedestrian safety.

Traffic calming projects are guided by the Decatur Safety Action Plan. Check the plan maps to see if your street is included. If not, we still welcome your feedback—share observations, concerns, or photos with the Transportation team at julie.harlan [at] decaturga.com (julie[dot]harlan[at]decaturga[dot]com) or 404‑377‑5571. For more information, visit our Speed Management page. Please note that changes are prioritized citywide and not based on individual requests.

That will depend partly on where your payment was mailed. In general, even for in-person payments, please allow 7-10 business days before your payment is applied to your account. The city honors postmarks, so don’t worry about additional interest accruing if you mailed your payment in on time.

The order will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. on April 7, 2020. The order is effective as Wednesday, March 25 at 12:01 a.m. 

The City of Decatur will continue to closely monitor the situation every day in order to determine what adjustments make sense.

For a first installment tax bill, the city will have your tax bill calculated by April 1. For a 2nd installment, the city will know by October 20. The city cannot provide any official numbers earlier than that because your taxable value or the millage rates could change.

Every Fall - Electronics & Styrofoam

Every Spring - Paper Shredding & Styrofoam

The City of Decatur issued this order under the powers it holds to respond to a public emergency, and it is a legal requirement that individuals stay at home and non-essential businesses reduce their operations.  The City of Decatur and the Decatur Police Department will assist in enforcing this order, but we are counting on the good judgment of residents in deciding when to go out – the intention of this order is not penalize individuals but to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.

We bill you using a temporary value, usually 85 percent of the assessed value, as assigned by DeKalb County in accordance with state laws on calculating temporary values. We also factor in Decatur's 50 percent assessment compared to DeKalb's 40 percent assessment. Your Decatur assessed value will always be 25 percent higher than your DeKalb assessed value, even when being billed on a temporary appeal value, because of the difference in assessment ratios between the city and county. Your city tax payment remains due while your appeal is being processed by DeKalb. Upon the conclusion of your appeal, you may end up owing the city the remaining 15% or whatever the difference was between the temporary and settled values. In other words, you could end up owing money even after winning an appeal.

Please allow one week after you’ve notified the city of changes in ownership or mailing addresses to be updated. Also, please be aware that our ownership and mailing information is overridden each time we receive updated data from DeKalb County. DeKalb County maintains the official legal records including property recording, deeds, and tax digests. If you don’t notify the county of your updated information, the county’s old information will eventually override the information you’ve given the city.

Please call the Clerk’s office at 678-553-6550 within 24 hours prior to the court date and confirm the case has not been rescheduled or closed due to payment of citation.

No. The 2nd installment bill is always a re-statement of the entire bill for the year, including all taxes, fees, and payments made over the course of the year. The sanitation and stormwater charges are re-printed on your 2nd installment bill so that you know what the total year’s charges and payments have been, but you’re only being charged for these fees once per year.

Affordable housing is an asset to the community because it plays a role in community development and economic development. A range of housing affordability options creates a competitive business climate where employees have stable housing, employers have less turnover due to housing instability or long commutes, and there are long term investments in building a sense of community. Housing affordability stabilizes households and decreases the need for public benefits. Teachers, restaurant and retail staff, small business owners, police officers, health workers, and fire fighters are just some of the workforce that serve the community and deserve options to live in the community that they serve.

This order is mandatory to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Decatur and to protect our friends, neighbors, and vulnerable populations. All residents should stay home except for essential travel.

Staying home is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Decatur.

Adhering to the order will save lives and it is the responsibility of every Decatur resident to do their part.

While there may be less so-called luxury finishes, affordable and workforce housing must comply with the same building and development codes as market-rate housing, including high-performance building standards. High-performing affordable and workforce housing units are needed more than ever to increase efficiencies and lower housing costs, such as heating and cooling.

The fee for recycling cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs is $10 per TV set, and the fee for CRT monitors is $5 ea. Cash only, exact change required.

We cannot recycle

Microwave ovens
Furniture
Light fixtures
Household appliances
Lamps
Vacuum cleaners

No, anyone may participate, including businesses and institutions from the entire metro area.

Yes, we vet the vendors, ensuring that everything is recycled responsibly. Our main vendor states “Bionew USA Corporation will dismantle all of the materials received in the United States down to the bare component, be it plastic, metal, circuit boards, CRT tubes, and any other e-waste/scrap, then the materials are sent downstream for recycling. Bionew has a zero waste corporate policy ensuring that none of the material brought into our facilities for recycling will end up in a landfill either domestically or internationally.”

Tasks essential to your health and safety, or to the health and safety of your family or household members or partners or significant others (including, but not limited to, pets), such as, by way of example only and without limitation, obtaining medical supplies or medication, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.
To obtain necessary services, supplies or food for yourself and your family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others
To engage in outdoor activity, provided individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements (i.e. walking, hiking, running, or bicycling).
To perform work providing essential products and services at an Essential Business or to otherwise carry out activities specifically permitted in the Order, including Minimum Basic Operations.
To care for a family member or pet in another household.
To work for or obtain services at any “Healthcare Operations” including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services.
To provide any services or perform any work necessary to the operations and maintenance of “Essential Infrastructure” (i.e. public works construction, airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems).

The information listed below is NOT legal advice as you have many rights available to you.

Plea of Guilty: An admission of Guilt. Depending on the offense, this plea may apply points to your drivers’ history or have other adverse effects.

Plea of Not Guilty: By pleading not guilty, you may request a bench trial or if applicable, you may request your case be bound over to DeKalb County for a jury trial.

Plea of Nolo Contendere (Often known as Nolo or No Contest): This plea is only available once every five (5) years and is discretionary. This plea requires your appearance in court.

Construction work is allowed during the following hours:

Monday – Friday 7 am – 6 pm

Saturday 9 am – 5 pm

Sunday No work permitted unless prior City Manager approval

The following "must appear" offenses require an appearance in court:

Aggressive Driving
All Alcohol Offenses
All Codes Enforcement/Environmental Compliance Violations
All Defendants Under the Age of 21
All Drug Offenses
Any Charge that May Result in Jail Time/License Suspension
Attempt to Elude an Officer
Disorderly Conduct
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Hit and Run
Habitual Violator Offenses
No Insurance
Passing a Loading/Unloading School Bus
Possession of Marijuana Less than 1 oz.
Racing
Reckless Driving
Shoplifting
Speeding 30 mph or Greater over the Speed Limit
Suspended License
Suspended Registration
Vehicular Homicide/Serious Injury

Most alleys in Decatur are private alleys. Where a property is adjacent to a private alley, the property owner actually owns that portion of the alley which is adjacent to the owner’s lot, up to the centerline of the alley. The property owner is responsible for maintenance of this part of the alley. Removal of a dead tree, brush, litter and similar items are the property owner’s responsibilities.

A private alley that serves multiple properties generally is for the use and enjoyment of all adjoining property owners. While rights to the use of an alley must be determined among the parties who own property adjoining the alley, no one property owner may close a portion of an alley and deny access to another such owner. Alley disputes and concerns are civil, and should be taken up with the adjacent property owners.

Alleys can be abandoned and deeded to abutting properties, but all adjacent property owners abutting the alley must consent to the abandonment. This is generally done by a quit claim deed executed by the owners of all properties that adjoin the alley. A real estate attorney can advise on the quit claim process to abandon an alley.

Education

Neighborhood newsletters, Focus articles, and social media content
Painted crosswalks & creative signage
Driver feedback signs

Enforcement

Police presence
Residential district speed zones

Engineering

Apartment Leasing Offices
Automobile-related (gas stations, parts, repair, sales/dealerships, service, supplies)
Banks
Blood Drives
Bookstores
Call Centers (supporting essential services)
Cell Phone Stores
Childcare Providers (specific requirements listed in Order)
Coffee Shop (delivery or carry-out only)
Construction Services related to Essential Infrastructure
Convenience Stores
Delivery Services (businesses that deliver or ship groceries, food, or services directly to home)
Dentists (Recommend emergency services only)
Drycleaners
Educational Institutions, including private K-12, colleges, and universities (for facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions)
Electricians
Exterminators
Farmer’s Markets
Financial Institutions
Food Banks
Food Cultivation Stores (including farming, livestock, and fishing)
Grocery Stores (includes stores that sell groceries and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences)
Hardware Stores
Healthcare Operations (hospitals, clinics, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, vision services, dermatology, veterinary services, etc.)
Home Services (services that allow for the safe and clean operation of homes and businesses)
Home-based Personal Care (for adults, children, pets or seniors)
Hotels/Motels
HVAC (Heating/Cooling) Contractors
Infrastructure (public works, construction, construction and all related activities, airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems)
Insurance Companies, Adjusters, Agents and Related Personnel
Janitorial Services
Laundromats
Laundry Service Providers
Lawn Maintenance Services
Liquor Stores/Alcoholic Beverage Stores
Mail & Shipping Services (including post office boxes)
Manufacturers (if supplying other Essential Businesses)
Media Services (newspaper, print, radio, television)
Office Supply Stores (businesses that supply essential support or materials to work from home)
Plumbers
Professional Services (accounting, legal, real estate services, etc. if necessary to assist in complying with legally mandated activities)
Residential Facilities (shared rental units and similar facilities and shelters for adults, children and seniors)
Restaurants (delivery or carry-out only)
Ride-hailing/Delivery Services (Lyft, Taxi, Uber)
School Supply Stores
Screenprinters/Sign Companies – as needed to support other essential businesses and government
Security Companies
Social Services (businesses providing food, shelter, and other necessities for those in need)
Staffing Companies
Thrift Stores
Veterinarians
Vitamin Stores

City services will remain as scheduled with the following modifications:

Curbside pickup only. Please call 404-377-5571 if you are unable to bring your trash to the curb.
Curbside collection of yard waste has been suspended during the COVID-19 emergency. Please do not place bundled and bagged yard waste at the curb until further notice. Instead, identify a place on your property away from roads, creeks, and drainage ditches to store any collected materials until curbside collection of leaves, sticks, and grass clippings resumes.
Municipal court sessions are canceled through April 13. If you have a court session scheduled from now through April 13, it will be rescheduled for at least 60 days out. Court staff will contact defendants via mail with new court dates. Defendants for court sessions related to the School Bus Crossing Arm will be contacted by American Traffic Solutions via mail with new hearing dates.  However, the ability to pay a citation online remains available in most cases.  Continue to check the city’s website for updated and on-going information regarding court operations. You may also contact the court at 678-553-6655.
Decatur Visitors Center is closed until further notice.
Ebster and Decatur Recreation Centers are closed until further notice.
Oakhurst Indoor Pool are closed.
Glenlake Tennis Center is closed.
Playgrounds are off-limits until further notice.
After school activities are canceled until further notice.

PERMITTING QUESTIONS and TRADE PERMITTING (Electric, Plumbing, HVAC)

Call 404.377.6198. For now, payments shall be made by check only until other options become available. Checks should be made payable to the City of Decatur and mailed to: Design Environment & Construction Division, 2635 Talley St., Decatur, GA 30030.

CONSTRUCTION-TREE-ENGINEERING QUESTIONS

For all inquiries and pre-application meetings, please contact staff directly to arrange a phone call or teleconference.

PLAN SUBMITTAL

For now, plan submittal will be carried out on an appointment basis or by email depending on the scope of work. For larger project submittals we will have plan drop off boxes located in the vestibule at the front of our building daily from 10am-12pm.

Please contact staff at 404.377.6198 or email:

Andrew.Burnette [at] decaturga.com (Andrew[dot]Burnette[at]decaturga[dot]com)

Kathryn.Snow [at] decaturga.com (Kathryn[dot]Snow[at]decaturga[dot]com)

AS BUILT PLAN SUBMITTAL

Plans can be emailed to Andrea.Hedgebeth [at] decaturga.com (Andrea[dot]Hedgebeth[at]decaturga[dot]com)

INSPECTIONS

Inspections will be handled as usual by online requests only at: https://www.decaturga.com/inspections

ALL OTHER QUESTIONS

Call 404.377.6198

Adding machines
Answering machines
Batteries, any kind
Cable converter boxes
Cables
Calculators
Component parts
Computers
Copiers
Digital cameras
Digital projectors
DVD players
Electric lawn mowers
Fax machines
Garden equipment
GPS receivers
Game controllers
Keyboards
Label makers
Mice
Mini-towers
Monitors
Pagers
PDAs
Portable CD players
Portable game players
Printer cartridges
Printers
Radios
Remote controls routers
Scanners
Servers Speakers
Stereo equipment
Telephones
Telephony equipment
3-in-1 devices
Typewriters
UPS units
VCRs
Workstation
Zip drives

If you fail to appear for court and fail to pay your fine before your court date, you will be subjected to serious penalties. Your driver license privileges may be subject for suspension and there may be a pending bench warrant for your arrest. Contact the Clerk's office immediately to see what options are available to you in lieu of having your license suspended or a bench warrant issued for your arrest.

If you have a disability, speak another language, or require special accommodations in the court, please contact the clerk's office (678-553-6655) least 2 weeks prior to your court date. All reasonable concerns will be addressed. You may also email the clerk's office your special accommodation requests to municipal.court [at] decaturga.com (municipal[dot]court[at]decaturga[dot]com) - someone from the court staff will provide a response within 48 - 72 hours of receiving the email.

Unless you’ve signed up for electronic notifications, we mail paper bills to every property owner twice a year. If we get mail returned, we research it and re-mail your bill either to the property address or alternate addresses that we find. The city acknowledges that unusual circumstances may cause you not to receive a bill, but failure to receive a bill does not relieve you of your obligation to pay. Taxes are always due on June 1 and Dec. 20.

If you haven’t received your paper bill, you can access it online at www.decaturgatax.com . We also offer a grace period with each billing. If taxes remain unpaid after the grace period, the unpaid amount is subject to interest and penalties. Ultimately, it is your responsibility as a property owner to ensure your taxes are paid.

Taxes must be paid for the full year regardless of any change in the residency of the taxpayer or disposition of the property that occurred after Jan. 1. The taxes cannot be pro-rated or waived even if your business has closed midway through the year. Business personal property taxes are totally different and separate from business licenses and occupation taxes.

Failure to Appear is a case status which is imposed on a case when a defendant fails to report to court on their assigned hearing date. If you fail to appear on your court appearance date, a letter informing you of your failure to appear and giving you 30 days to contact the court to resolve the outstanding matter. If you fail to contact the court within 30 days of your missed hearing date, a bench warrant can be issued for your arrest and the Department of Driver Services may be notified for your license to be suspended.

The sanitation service fee covers garbage collection, yard waste disposal, commingled and glass recycling, street sweeping, and bulky item pickup. Sanitation service fees are billed annually and are payable for the full year in the first installment billing.

Properties are assessed a storm water utility fee based on the amount of paved and covered areas on the property. Income from the fees is used to make storm drainage improvements. Utilities are charged to all property owners, including tax-exempt properties. Stormwater utility fees are billed annually and are payable for the full year in the first installment billing.

Art Galleries
Barber Shops (at store locations)
Beauty Supply Stores
Bridal Salons
Call Centers (unless providing support for an essential service)
Car Washes
Event Facilities
Fitness Centers/Gyms
Flower Shops
Furniture Stores
Hair Salons (at store locations)
Jewelry Stores
Martial Arts Studios
Massage Studio/Spa (unless massage ordered or authorized by doctor)
Music Venues
Nail Salons
Pet Groomers (at store locations)/Doggie Day Care Centers
Photography Studios
Places of Worship (streaming encouraged)
Plant Nurseries (that only sell plants/flowers)
Retail Clothing Stores
Sporting Goods Stores
Tattoo Parlors
Tobacco/Vape Stores

Apartment Leasing Offices
Automobile-related (gas stations, parts, repair, sales/dealerships, service, supplies)
Banks
Blood Drives
Bookstores
Call Centers (supporting essential services)
Cell Phone Stores
Childcare Providers (specific requirements listed in Order)
Coffee Shop (delivery or carry-out only)
Construction Services related to Essential Infrastructure
Convenience Stores
Delivery Services (businesses that deliver or ship groceries, food, or services directly to home)
Dentists (Recommend emergency services only)
Drycleaners
Educational Institutions, including private K-12, colleges, and universities (for facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions)
Electricians
Exterminators
Farmer’s Markets
Financial Institutions
Food Banks
Food Cultivation Stores (including farming, livestock, and fishing)
Grocery Stores (includes stores that sell groceries and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences)
Hardware Stores
Healthcare Operations (hospitals, clinics, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, vision services, dermatology, veterinary services, etc.)
Home Services (services that allow for the safe and clean operation of homes and businesses)
Home-based Personal Care (for adults, children, pets or seniors)
Hotels/Motels
HVAC (Heating/Cooling) Contractors
Infrastructure (public works, construction, construction and all related activities, airport operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems)
Insurance Companies, Adjusters, Agents and Related Personnel
Janitorial Services
Laundromats
Laundry Service Providers
Lawn Maintenance Services
Liquor Stores/Alcoholic Beverage Stores
Mail & Shipping Services (including post office boxes)
Manufacturers (if supplying other Essential Businesses)
Media Services (newspaper, print, radio, television)
Office Supply Stores (businesses that supply essential support or materials to work from home)
Plumbers
Professional Services (accounting, legal, real estate services, etc. if necessary to assist in complying with legally mandated activities)
Residential Facilities (shared rental units and similar facilities and shelters for adults, children and seniors)
Restaurants (delivery or carry-out only)
Ride-hailing/Delivery Services (Lyft, Taxi, Uber)
School Supply Stores
Screenprinters/Sign Companies – as needed to support other essential businesses and government
Security Companies
Social Services (businesses providing food, shelter, and other necessities for those in need)
Staffing Companies
Thrift Stores
Veterinarians
Vitamin Stores

“Social Distancing Requirements” includes maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands

Up until 2017, a 10 percent penalty and 1 percent interest monthly are applied to any unpaid balances. For 2017 going forward, a 5 percent penalty and variable interest rate are charged in accordance with a state formula. Additional collection fees will apply if your account remains delinquent.

Contact the Clerk's Office at (678) 553-6655 and request your court date to be rescheduled. The Clerk's Office ask that you contact them no later than 3 days prior to your court date. We understand emergencies happen and ask that you contact the court immediately to be excused from court. Please note - The Clerk's Office can only process a maximum of two (2) reschedule request outside of court. After two (2) has been processed outside of court, all additional request must be approved by the judge.

You can pay with a check by mail or in person, cash in person, or by credit card online.

If you are paying off a tax lien or replacing a bounced check, we accept only cash or cashier’s check.

We bill in two, unequal installments per year. Payment is due on June 1 and December 20.

Any routine maintenance or repairs that exceed $1,000 in cost, reconfigure the interior spaces or exterior of a building, or alter any building systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or load bearing structures will require a building permit. In addition, any work that alters the yard or building lot in the form of paving, retaining walls, decks, sheds, garages, fences, and/or landscaping will require a building permit.

The order, which requires all City of Decatur residents to stay home, except for essential needs, is effective Wednesday, March 25 at 12:01 a.m.

They City has an ever changing street plan based on annual road evaluations, budget constraints, and other infrastructure and utility projects. Contact the Public Works Department for the latest road project plans.

City of Decatur

P.O. Box 945650

Atlanta, GA 30394-5650

If an overpayment is made on your property, the city refunds the entity that made the last payment that resulted in the credit. For example, if you paid, then your mortgage company paid, the city would refund the mortgage company. Issuing refunds may take three to four weeks after the check that caused the overpayment cleared the bank before the city mails a refund check.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services. You may reach them at (678) 413-8400 or online at http://www.dds.ga.gov.

Report any storm structure blockage, flooding, or illegal dumping to the Design, Environment and Construction Department at 404-377-6198.

DeKalb County at 404-371-2000.

Georgia Power is responsible for power outages and the maintenance of utility poles and street lights:

Street Light Outage Power Outage

The City’s water and sewer related issues are handled by DeKalb County. Submit a request to DeKalb County for all water quality and water or sewer repairs, maintenance, or construction here.

Contact Public Works at 404-377-5571. If the animal is in the street, the City will remove it; if the animal is on private property, the City will remove it if the animal is bagged and placed at the curb.

DeKalb County is responsible for the maintenance of the traffic signals in Decatur. To report problems with existing traffic signals call 404-297-3947 between 8:00am and 5:30pm Monday thru Friday. After hours and on holidays and weekends, problems can be reported by calling 678-406-7929.

The City owns and maintains all structures located within the Right of Way or within a dedicated easement that the City has accepted. Some of the stormwater systems that convey runoff from multiple properties, however, are located on private property, and the City does not own this infrastructure, nor does it have access to maintain these systems. This infrastructure is considered private, and maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the owner.

The City uses a third party payment processor for credit card payments. This fee is charged by the processor. You can pay by check or cash with no extra charge.

The City of Decatur is known for high-quality services to its residents. DeKalb County property taxes for residents within the City of Decatur are lower than City taxes because the City provides more services to residents than the county does. Also, about 60 percent of your city tax bill goes toward the city school system.

The City frequently receives all-way stop sign requests as a low impact and cost-effective method for addressing speeding and pedestrian safety. However, it is a misconception that all-way stop signs are best for addressing these neighborhood concerns. The installation of an all-way stop sign is dictated by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD requires specific warrants to be met in order to install an all-way stop at an intersection. All-way stop signs are used when there are:

High volumes of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists
High number of accidents
Limited visibility
Balanced volumes on intersecting roads

Individual circumstances will vary. Generally speaking, 1st installment tax bills are higher than 2nd installments because the city bills for sanitation and stormwater fees during 1st installments only. City millage rates have been fairly consistent over the last few years, so any other dramatic changes in your bill are probably due to a change in your assessed value from DeKalb County. Please check with DeKalb if you don’t understand why your assessed value has increased. To see an example of how we calculate bills, visit our general information page.

Electronics and batteries contain dangerous chemicals such as mercury and lead that leach into the soil and groundwater when dumped at landfills. These chemicals are toxic to the local flora, fauna, and threaten public health. Additionally, electronics contain valuable raw materials that can be reused.

Construction of low-income housing development has had no consistent impact on the sale prices of nearby homes. From the Center for Housing Policy Insights: “The vast majority of studies have found that affordable housing does not depress neighboring property values, and may even raise them in some cases. Overall, the research suggests that neighbors should have little to fear from the type of attractive and modestly sized developments that constitute the bulk of newly produced affordable housing today.”

Studies show that traditional single-family home neighborhoods have 2 to 3 times the number of school-aged children than those residing in apartments. A 2020 Student Yield Analysis created by Cooperative Strategies for the City Schools of Decatur found in the 2019-2020 school year that 3.69 times as many students resided in single-family homes than in townhomes, condos and apartments combined (K-12 student counts, 2019-2020 by housing unit type). Housing types such as duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes are typically smaller and have fewer bedrooms than new construction, single-family homes. These housing types tend to attract a more diverse array of owners including young couples and single people, and older “empty-nesters” resulting in a lower burden for the school system with equivalent property taxes values compared to new single-family homes. In addition, increasing the number of homes affordable to local workforce limits sprawl, creates shorter commutes and increases opportunity for health outcomes and walkability in our cities.

With the exception of playgrounds, the City's public parks, dog parks and outdoor recreation areas are open for use by the general public during regular operating hours, provided individuals comply with social distancing requirements.

Decatur is setting up systems to work with developers and homeowners using a “ground lease” and deed restrictions to keep housing permanently affordable. The ground lease is between the Decatur Land Trust and the developer or owner. The Decatur Land Trust will keep the land in ownership.

If you are indigent and meet the federal guideline requirements, the court may appoint an attorney to represent you in your case with the municipal court. The court requires completion of an application and financial statement and will make a decision upon review of these documents. You may ask for an application when you appear to court on your court date. Please note - Requesting a court appointed attorney or completing the public defender application cannot be done online prior to appearing on your court date.

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