Eviction in Dougherty County, Georgia
Where eviction cases are filed in Dougherty County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Dougherty County
- Eviction court
- Dougherty County Magistrate Court — Magistrate court (dispossessory) Court page
- Filing fee
- $87.00 dispossessory warrant; $25.00 to dispossess tenant (payable to Sheriff); $50.00 to personally serve on commercial property or serve a registered agent Dougherty County Magistrate Court Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2024
- Notice before filing (state law)
- Before filing a dispossessory affidavit for unpaid rent, late fees, utilities, or other charges, the landlord must give the tenant a notice to vacate or pay all past-due amounts within three business days. The notice must be posted in a sealed envelope conspicuously on the door of the property AND delivered by any additional method(s) agreed upon in the rental agreement. Georgia rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,129/month HUD
- Renter households
- 18,742 (55% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28
Where eviction cases are filed in Dougherty County
Eviction cases in Dougherty County are heard by the Dougherty County Magistrate Court (Magistrate court (dispossessory)).
- Dougherty County Magistrate Court — Room 308, Albany-Dougherty Judicial Building, P.O. Box 1827, Albany, GA 31702-1827; (229) 431-3216 · website
The Magistrate Court has civil jurisdiction up to $15,000 (where Superior Court does not have exclusive jurisdiction) and posts a dispossessory form, a dispossessory paperwork guide (https://www.dougherty.ga.us/files/assets/county/v/2/courts/documents/magistrate-court/dispopaperworkguidenew.pdf), a dispossessory answer form and a writ of possession form on its page.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Dougherty County
$87.00 dispossessory warrant; $25.00 to dispossess tenant (payable to Sheriff); $50.00 to personally serve on commercial property or serve a registered agent
Fee schedule linked from the Magistrate Court page.
Source: Dougherty County Magistrate Court Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2024
The Georgia eviction process
Georgia state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Dougherty County:
- Demand for possession; for nonpayment, a notice to vacate or pay within 3 business days, posted in a sealed envelope on the door and delivered by any additional method in the lease (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(c)-(d))
- Landlord files a sworn dispossessory affidavit
- Summons served by sheriff/deputy, constable, or (since 7/1/2025) an approved process server: personal service, an adult resident, or post-and-mail the same day; tack-and-mail alone supports possession but not a money judgment if tenant defaults
- Tenant answers orally or in writing within 7 days of service (tendering all rent allegedly owed plus the cost of the dispossessory warrant within 7 days of service is a complete defense, which the landlord must accept only once in any 12-month period); if the case is not decided within 2 weeks, tenant must pay rent into court
- Hearing (usually within about 7 days if a valid defense is raised); judgment
- Writ of possession after 7 days; sheriff supervises removal and property is placed on landlord's land. Either party may appeal within 7 days; tenant must pay rent into court to stay in the unit
Full Georgia eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Dougherty County
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Albany, GA MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $966 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,006 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,129 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,534 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,858 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Dougherty County: $935/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; eviction procedure is governed by state law. City rules, if any, are on city pages.
Eviction help in Dougherty County
Free legal help
- Georgia Legal Services Program — Free civil legal services for low-income Georgians outside metro Atlanta (154 of 159 counties), with an Albany regional office. Statewide intake: 1-833-457-7529 (1-833-GLSPLAW) or 1-800-498-9469.
Tenant and eviction lawyers in Dougherty County
Other Georgia counties
- Eviction in Fulton County (Atlanta)
- Eviction in DeKalb County (Decatur)
- Eviction in Gwinnett County (Lawrenceville)
- Eviction in Cobb County (Marietta)
- Eviction in Chatham County (Savannah)
- Eviction in Clayton County (Jonesboro)
- Eviction in Muscogee County (Columbus)
- Eviction in Richmond County (Augusta)
- Eviction in Clarke County (Athens)
- Eviction in Bibb County (Macon)
- Eviction in Hall County
- Eviction in Cherokee County
- Eviction in Henry County
- Eviction in Houston County
- Eviction in Lowndes County (Valdosta)
- Eviction in Douglas County (Douglasville)
Related
- Georgia landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Georgia
- Georgia eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Georgia (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Dougherty County?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Dougherty County?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Dougherty County?
What is the fair market rent in Dougherty County?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.