Georgia Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
Georgia rules on section 8, records & right to counsel for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statewide protection. Georgia's fair housing protected classes are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability; source of income (including vouchers) is not among them. Georgia Fair Housing Act, O.C.G.A. § 8-3-200 et seq. (as summarized in DCA Landlord-Tenant Handbook, rev. 8-29-24, p. 4)
The rules in Georgia
| Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | No statewide protection. Georgia's fair housing protected classes are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability; source of income (including vouchers) is not among them. |
|---|---|
| Eviction record sealing | No statute in effect yet. Beginning January 1, 2027, a court may, on motion and after a hearing, order all court records of a dispossessory (eviction) case made unavailable to the public if the tenant won the case, the tenant paid the judgment in full with interest and costs, or seven years have passed since a dismissal or judgment (with any judgment paid in full). The landlord may still pursue amounts owed in a separate action or through collections. Enacted in 2026 as Act 715. Section 9 of the Act makes this provision effective January 1, 2027. Until then, Georgia has no eviction-record sealing statute. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
Georgia vs. neighboring states
| State | Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | Eviction record sealing | Right to a lawyer in eviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | No statewide protection. Georgia's fair housing protected classes are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability; source of income (including vouchers) is not among them. Georgia Fair Housing Act, O.C.G.A. § 8-3-200 et seq. (as summarized in DCA Landlord-Tenant Handbook, rev. 8-29-24, p. 4) | No statute in effect yet. Beginning January 1, 2027, a court may, on motion and after a hearing, order all court records of a dispossessory (eviction) case made unavailable to the public if the tenant won the case, the tenant paid the judgment in full with interest and costs, or seven years have passed since a dismissal or judgment (with any judgment paid in full). The landlord may still pursue amounts owed in a separate action or through collections. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(e) (added by SB 406, 2026, Act 715, § 8; effective January 1, 2027) | Not verified yet |
| Alabama | No. Alabama's Fair Housing Law covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and handicap only; it does not protect source of income or housing-voucher holders. Ala. Code § 24-8-4 | No statute — Alabama has no law sealing, masking or expunging eviction (unlawful detainer) court records. Ala. Code § 35-9A-461; §§ 6-6-310 et seq. (checked) | No statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. Ala. Code § 35-9A-461 (eviction actions) |
| Florida | No. The Florida Fair Housing Act's protected classes are race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status and religion; source of income is not included. Fla. Stat. § 760.23 | No statute — chapter 83 has no eviction-record sealing or masking provision. Fla. Stat. ch. 83 | No statute — no statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. Fla. Stat. ch. 83 |
| North Carolina | No statewide protection. Since 2024 state law also bars counties and cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances that stop landlords from refusing tenants whose rent includes federal housing assistance (for example Section 8 vouchers). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1(b) (S.L. 2024-47, s. 7) | No statute. North Carolina has no general provision for sealing or expunging summary ejectment (eviction) records. N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 42 (no sealing provision for summary ejectment) | No statute. North Carolina has no statewide right to a lawyer in eviction cases. N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 42, art. 3 (Summary Ejectment; no counsel provision) |
| South Carolina | No. The South Carolina Fair Housing Law protects race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin (among other protections), but not source of income or voucher use. S.C. Code 31-21-40 | Starting January 1, 2027: eviction filings and records with a defendant's personal information (including cases ending in an order of eviction or writ of ejectment, settled cases, and cases resolved by later payment) must be removed from the public index and publicly accessible files 7 years after final disposition or filing if no additional filing is recorded. Removal is automatic (by the responsible agency); no motion process. S.C. Code 30-2-60 (2026 Act No. 214, H.4270) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 37 and Ch. 40 |
| Tennessee | No. The Tennessee Human Rights Act's housing provision covers race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin, but not source of income or vouchers. T.C.A. 4-21-601(a) | No statute. Tennessee has no law sealing or expunging eviction (detainer) records. A 2026 bill to make dismissed unlawful detainer cases confidential (HB1940/SB2016) failed in House subcommittee on March 18, 2026 and was not enacted. 2026 HB1940 / SB2016 (not enacted) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. T.C.A. Title 29, Chapter 18; Title 66, Chapters 7 and 28 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare section 8, records & right to counsel in all 50 states and DC →
Georgia Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel FAQ
Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse Section 8 vouchers in Georgia?
No statewide protection. Georgia's fair housing protected classes are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability; source of income (including vouchers) is not among them. (Georgia Fair Housing Act, O.C.G.A. § 8-3-200 et seq. (as summarized in DCA Landlord-Tenant Handbook, rev. 8-29-24, p. 4))
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in Georgia?
No statute in effect yet. Beginning January 1, 2027, a court may, on motion and after a hearing, order all court records of a dispossessory (eviction) case made unavailable to the public if the tenant won the case, the tenant paid the judgment in full with interest and costs, or seven years have passed since a dismissal or judgment (with any judgment paid in full). The landlord may still pursue amounts owed in a separate action or through collections. (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(e) (added by SB 406, 2026, Act 715, § 8; effective January 1, 2027))
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.