Hart County

Sets property values and takes returns (Jan 1–Apr 1). Open Mon–Fri, 8:30–5:00. If you disagree with a change-of-assessment notice, your appeal must be postmarked within 45 days of it.

Collects property taxes and also sells car tags. Open Mon–Fri, 8:30–5:00, and there is a drop box outside for payments. Taxes are normally due Dec 20, and questions about your bill go here, not to the Assessors.

The Tax Commissioner's official site for looking up and paying property tax bills and renewing tags online.

Search parcels by owner, address or parcel ID to see values, sales and maps. If you make changes to your property, you must report them to the Assessors between January and April 1 of the next year.

Records deeds, liens and plats. Open 8:30–5:00. Real estate can be e-filed through PeachCourt, and you can call the Clerk to set up at-home record searches.

Georgia's statewide index of deeds and liens, which the Hart Clerk also points residents to. Most searches need a paid GSCCCA account.

Inside Hartwell city limits, the city bills and collects its own property tax, separate from the county bill. This office also handles city utility billing.

You can apply any time after you move in, up to April 1 of the first tax year you want it. You must have owned the home on January 1. Call ahead to ask what documents to bring.

The Assessors' chart lists a $10,000 regular local exemption on county and school general taxes. It also lists elderly (65+) exemptions for incomes under $10,000. The chart looks dated, so confirm current amounts with the office.

Confirms that homestead and senior exemptions are applied for through the Tax Assessors by April 1. If you think your value is too high, file a return by April 1.

The Board of Commissioners voted 5–0 to opt out of the statewide floating homestead exemption. That cap on yearly assessment increases does not apply to county taxes.

Hartwell City Council voted 4–0 to stay in the floating homestead exemption. For eligible homesteads, the city-tax assessment can only rise with inflation.

The school board gave notice that it intended to opt out, with hearings in January–February 2025. Ask the Assessors whether the floating exemption applies to your school taxes.

The state's official explanation of how the floating homestead exemption and its yearly inflation cap work.

Lists statewide exemptions for seniors, disabled veterans and surviving spouses that can be added on top of local ones. You still file them at the Hart County Assessors' office.

City water service. To start service, file the city's Utility Service Application with a photo ID and a lease or proof of ownership. Water and gas need deposits, which are refunded or credited after one year of on-time payments.

City sewer service inside Hartwell. It is billed on the same city utility bill as water, gas and garbage.

Pay your city utility bill online, in person at City Hall or at the drive-through. If your service was cut off for non-payment, call City Hall.

Created by the state in 1992 to be the main water and sewer provider for unincorporated Hart County. Call or email water@hartwatersewer.com to open an account. E-bills and bank draft are free.

You need written approval from HCWSA before connecting to its water system. The contractor must hold a Georgia Utility Contractor's License.

The rate policy manual covers water and sewer rates, penalties and fees, and disconnection and reconnection rules.

The town runs its own water system. Town Hall is open Tue and Thu 9–1 (also the 1st and 21st of the month), so call or text for an appointment.

Royston runs its own water and wastewater plants and serves its city limits, which reach into Hart County. For water-quality questions, call the treatment plant at (706) 967-4548.

Issues septic permits and inspections and handles well-water questions. Health department hours are Mon 8–5, Tue 8–7, Wed–Thu 8–5 and Fri 8–noon, closed 12:30–1 for lunch.

New septic systems need a permit and inspection before use, and not every lot qualifies. The page links state lists of certified installers, pumpers and soil classifiers.

Call the local Environmental Health office about well permits and well-water testing.

Pick up sample bottles here and send well water to the UGA lab. Test yearly for basic minerals, coliform/E. coli and nitrates, and run the expanded test once every 3 years.

Rural electric co-op founded in 1937 to serve Hart and nearby counties. Apply by phone or at the office Mon–Fri 8–4, and bring a 911 address. A deposit may be required.

Lists what you need to start service, such as ID, mailing address and the service location's 911 address or meter number, and explains how deposits are set.

The City of Hartwell says Georgia Power is the main electric provider in Hartwell. Start or transfer service online or by phone.

City-owned since the 1950s, it serves about 2,100 customers in Hartwell and Hart County. It is billed with city water, sewer and garbage, and a gas deposit applies.

The city's incentive program for switching to a natural gas water heater. Call the Gas Department to check eligibility.

Department of the City of Royston serving about 2,000 customers, including parts of Hart County. Call to ask whether gas is available at your address.

Open Mon, Wed and Fri 8–7, Tue and Thu 8–4:30, Sat 8–1:30, closed Sun. Trash costs $60/ton and yard waste $45/ton for residents, with free mulch. Cash or check only, and recyclables are temporarily not accepted here.

Sites at Airline, Goldmine, Hartwell (Woodlake Landing), Nuburg, Reed Creek, Sardis and Shoal Creek. Open Mon, Wed and Fri 8–7, Sat 10–2 and Sun 3–6, closed Tue and Thu. Buy the required trash bags on site, and recycling is free.

Weekly curbside pickup in a free 96-gallon cart. It costs $20.99/month inside the city and $23.99/month for homes served outside city limits, billed with city utilities. Call City Hall for your pickup day.

The only trash collector inside Royston city limits, with weekly curbside pickup for $17.25/month on the utility bill. The recycle center at 781 Bowers St. no longer takes glass.

Local company offering phone, cable TV and internet. Tech support is (706) 856-5555. Use the contact form or call to check availability.

Plans range up to 1 Gig ('Blue Streak Gig'). Some areas only get lower DSL-type speeds, so confirm your address before you buy.

The City of Hartwell lists Comcast as a cable and internet provider. Check availability by address on the website.

Enter the exact address to see every provider reporting service there, including fixed wireless and satellite, which is useful for rural and lake properties.

NCES counts 3,743 students in 5 schools (2024–25). School calendars, bus info and board meetings are on the district site.

Book an enrollment appointment online. Pre-K is walk-in at the Board of Education office, 8–4:30. The page lists who may enroll a child and which documents to bring.

Federal data on enrollment, staffing and school list for the district.

Issues building and mobile-home permits for unincorporated areas. New homes cost $0.20 per heated sq ft and $0.10 per unheated sq ft plus $100 per trade, and other permits are $25. Tiny houses and shipping-container homes are not allowed.

County rules covering buildings (Ch. 18), floods (Ch. 38), land development and subdivisions (Ch. 46), manufactured homes (Ch. 50) and signs (Ch. 70).

Handles county roads, subdivision of land, environmental enforcement and permits for utility work in county right-of-way. Report road problems here.

Inside city limits, permits and inspections come from the city, not the county. Call the Building Official at (706) 856-3209 or the Building Inspector at (706) 856-3210.

Zoning map, 2025 comprehensive plan, historic design guidelines and forms for rezoning, variance and annexation. The commission meets the 4th Thursday at 6 PM when it has a case.

Docks and underbrushing on Corps land need a Shoreline Use Permit. Permits do not transfer at sale: a new owner must apply within 14 days. Call before you buy lakefront property.

The Corps' rules on dock size, electrical inspections, vegetation and which shoreline areas allow private docks. Review it before buying a lake lot.

Law enforcement for unincorporated areas. Use this line for non-emergencies. Offers house-watch requests, incident reports, gun permits and CodeRED sign-up.

The Sheriff's local registry page. You can also search the statewide GBI registry.

Statewide search by name or address.

Police for addresses inside Hartwell city limits. This is the non-emergency line.

Fire protection inside Hartwell city limits. This is the non-emergency line, and the department also runs city building inspections.

County fire service for unincorporated areas and the lake. Always call 911 for emergencies.

Countywide ambulance service. Call 911 for emergencies.

Sign up for CodeRED emergency alerts and register household members with special needs (Logan's List), livestock or an AED. Report address changes to 911 Addressing.

Register your vehicle within 30 days of moving here. Bring your out-of-state title or lienholder information, current registration, proof of insurance, mileage and photo ID. Open Mon–Fri 8:30–5.

Nearby driver's license office, open Tue–Fri 8–6. Check DDS online services first, since many licensing tasks don't need a visit.

Another nearby driver's license office, open Tue–Fri 8–6.

Register to vote or update your address. Open Mon–Fri 8–12 and 1–5, and you can also register online on the state's My Voter Page.

Check your registration, polling place and sample ballots, or register online.

Open Mon, Tue and Fri 10–6, Wed 10–2, Thu 10–8 and Sat 10–2, closed Sun.

Youth sports, ball fields, tennis courts, picnic shelters and facility rentals. Register online or at the office.

Low-cost rides anywhere in Hart County, Mon–Fri 8–4. A trip costs $2 in the city or $3 outside it, and medical trips to Franklin County are $4.50.

Takes in strays and adoptable pets for Hart and Franklin counties, including Hartwell. Owner surrenders need an appointment.

Research-based advice on lawns, gardens, pests and livestock, plus soil and water testing. Open Mon–Fri 8–12 and 1–5.

Assigns new addresses and road names. You need a 911 address for utility hookups and permits, and you should report it here if you move.

Search by address to view the official flood map (FIRM) and download a FIRMette for your lender or insurer.

Georgia's map viewer for checking flood zones and base flood elevations by parcel.

County rules for building in mapped floodplains. Ask Building Permitting before you build or add on near a creek or the lake.

The county's parcel map system. Use it to find your property lines and parcel ID, then check the flood zone on the FEMA map.

Explains flood insurance options and how to find an agent. Standard homeowners policies usually don't cover flood damage, so don't wait until a storm to buy a policy.