Jackson County

Sets assessed values and takes homestead applications. Open Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM. Assessment notices go out after April, and you have 45 days from the notice date to appeal.

Key calendar: Jan 1 ownership and use set the year's value. April 1 is the deadline for homestead and property returns. Change notices go out mid-April, and tax bills are mailed in October.

The county's official parcel search, linked from the county homepage. Look up owner, acreage, assessed value, sales, and exemptions on file.

Bills and collects property taxes. Open Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Bills usually go out in October and are due December 20. Partial payments are accepted only through the due date.

The Tax Commissioner's online bill search and payment portal. Look up bills and receipts by name, address, or parcel.

Plain-English answers on how bills are calculated (40% assessed value × millage), due dates, and penalties. After the due date, interest is added monthly and a penalty of up to 20% may apply.

Records deeds ($25), plats, and liens. Copies cost $0.50 a page. A PT-61 form is required for any deed that changes ownership. The office can't do title searches or give legal advice. Main office: (706) 387-6246, Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM.

Statewide deed and lien index, linked by the Clerk. Searching online needs a pay-per-use or subscription account. The public terminals in the Clerk's office are free.

Free alert service, recommended on the Clerk's page. You get an email whenever a document is recorded under your name, which helps catch deed fraud.

Apply in the Tax Assessor's office. You must own and occupy the home as of January 1, and the application must be in before April 1. If you move, you must reapply. At age 62 you can apply for an additional exemption.

The Assessor confirms that April 1 is the homestead deadline for the current tax year. Applications filed after that date take effect the following year.

State rules: a $2,000 basic exemption, senior exemptions at 62 and 65 (some have income limits), and a disabled-veteran exemption ($121,812 for 2025). New under state law: if you miss April 1, you can still apply until the end of your 45-day assessment appeal window.

State summary of Jackson County deadlines: homestead by April 1 of the first year you want it, and appeals postmarked within 45 days of the assessment notice.

Statewide since 2025, this caps yearly growth in a homestead's taxable value at inflation, unless the county, city, or school system opted out. Ask the Assessor which of your taxing jurisdictions take part. The county page doesn't post this.

Local act that went to a November 2024 vote. It would raise the county senior exemption to $10,000 (ages 62–64) and $25,000 (65+) with no income cap. A companion bill, HB 1003, would freeze school-tax value for owners 62+. Confirm with the Assessor what is in effect before you apply.

Main provider in unincorporated Jackson County, and it is separate from county government. To start service, bring your closing statement and a photo ID, and pay a $40 fee plus a deposit of up to $150. Service can't start before your closing date. Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM.

After hours: sewer (706) 424-1597, water (706) 387-2771. JCWSA maintains the sewer line only to the right-of-way, so a backup on your side is a job for your own plumber.

Full-service city utility, billed as one monthly bill. Apply online at least 24 hours ahead with your ID and closing papers. New in-city occupants must book a free inspection: (706) 335-4200. Ext. 3005 for utilities. Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM.

2026 residential application. Homeowners send a driver's license and closing documents to customerservice@jeffersonga.gov. The fee is $60 plus a $200 deposit. Press ext. 3 for utilities.

Town water and wastewater billing and service requests. After-hours water and sewer calls: (678) 283-0437. Braselton also extends into Barrow, Gwinnett, and Hall counties.

To start service, bring the application, a photo ID, and a security deposit. The deposit is credited back after 24 months of on-time payment. After-hours water emergencies: (470) 791-8931. City Hall is open Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Water and sewer within the Maysville city limits and its service area. The Water Department is at 92 Brevard Street.

Water for Nicholson and surrounding areas. Open Mon–F 8 AM–4 PM. Accounts 30 days past due are disconnected, with a $50 reconnect fee. Outdoor watering is by odd and even address days.

Septic permits, septic drawing requests, and well-water bacterial testing. Open Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:30 PM and Fri 8 AM–2 PM, closed noon–1. Inspectors are usually in 8:30–10 AM, so call first. Email: jackson.eh@dph.ga.gov.

Application requirements, site-evaluation requests, existing-system evaluations, and failure reports. Repair permits need your monthly water usage from your water provider.

Jackson County Environmental Health does not permit or inspect wells. Wells must still meet required setbacks from septic systems. The page has a well drilling brochure and an abandoned-well fact sheet.

Takes well-water and soil samples for the UGA lab. Samples go to the lab on Wednesdays. E. coli tests and home-loan test kits need a special bottle, so call first.

State lists of certified septic contractors, pumpers, and soil scientists, linked from the county's septic page.

Member co-op serving Jackson and nine other counties. Assistance line is open Mon–Fri 7 AM–6 PM. Outages: 1-800-245-4044. Jefferson local office: (706) 367-5281, Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM.

Start residential service online or by phone. The City of Jefferson's newcomer page lists both Georgia Power and Jackson EMC as local electric providers. Outage map: outagemap.georgiapower.com.

City-owned electric for about 3,400 Commerce customers, billed with your city utilities. Crews are on call 24/7. Report outages at (706) 335-4200.

Owns the gas lines outside city systems, and it is listed on the City of Jefferson's newcomer page. Call for gas odor, leaks, or emergencies. You can't buy gas from AGL; you sign up with a marketer.

Official list of the companies you can buy gas from on the Atlanta Gas Light system. Compare marketers before signing up.

Compare current marketer rates side by side before you pick a plan.

City gas system, billed with Commerce utilities. Offers 0% financing up to $7,500 for new gas appliances, plus rebates: $500 for a tankless water heater, $200 for a tank model.

Accepts household trash, bulky items, and tires. Open Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–4:30 PM and Sat 7:30 AM–2 PM. You unload your own vehicle. Pay by cash, check, or card (3% fee on credit cards).

Two sites: 843 New Kings Bridge Rd, Athens, (706) 510-8750; and 268 Yarbrough Ridgeway Rd, Commerce, (706) 614-2585. Open Tue–Fri 2:30–5:30 PM and Sat 7 AM–3 PM. Bagged household garbage only, cash or check.

Fees are $1 per 32-gallon bag, $4 per appliance or furniture item, and $7 per passenger tire. Paint recycling has its own per-container fees.

Metals, flattened cardboard, and motor oil (up to 5 gallons) are free if separated from other waste. Check the holiday schedule before you go.

Residential trash is collected by the city and billed with your utilities. The city also picks up brush, leaves, and limbs on a mapped schedule. Leaves go in paper bags only.

City notice: Red Oak Sanitation became Jefferson's exclusive hauler on March 1, 2025 (Red Oak: 678-455-7819). For billing, call the city at ext. 3 then 2.

Curbside trash and recycling every Friday. Cans must be at the curb by 5 AM, and all garbage must be bagged. No yard trimmings.

Pendergrass contracts with Waste Pro inside city limits. Call Waste Pro at this number to sign up.

Enter the address to see every wired, fixed-wireless, and satellite provider reporting service there.

The state's address-level map of served and unserved locations.

Building fiber to unserved Jackson EMC members, starting in Jackson County (Governor's office, 2022). TruVista also took over Commerce's city business fiber in April 2026. Check your address on their site.

Xfinity's local pages list cable internet service in Jefferson, Commerce, Braselton, and Hoschton. Coverage is address-specific.

District serving everyone outside the Jefferson and Commerce city school districts.

Zone maps for the current year. Confirm which elementary, middle, and high school serve an address.

Register online or in person. Proof of residency in the parent's name is required: a settlement or mortgage statement, a lease, a utility connection, or homeowner's insurance. Also bring the birth certificate and photo ID.

Separate city district. New in-district K-12 students register online, and there's a separate link for out-of-district families.

Separate city district for Commerce. Call the central office for registration and residency requirements.

The county's map showing which of the three school systems covers each area. Use it to check an address near city limits.

Zoning districts, setbacks, rezonings, variances, and zoning verification letters for unincorporated Jackson County.

Apply for permits and schedule inspections in the online portal. Checklists cover new homes, additions, pools, accessory buildings, and manufactured homes. Open Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM.

Submit permit and zoning applications, pay fees, and track status. Since Aug 17, 2026, card payments carry a processing fee ($2.50 under $60, 3.95% at $60 and over).

Handles complaints about junk vehicles, overgrowth, illegal dumping, and unpermitted work in unincorporated areas. Complaints must include your name. Property-line, drainage, and HOA disputes are civil matters it doesn't handle.

Full county code on Municode, including the Unified Development Code.

Permits, zoning, fence and accessory-building rules, and a zoning map. Open Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM. Code enforcement: (706) 335-1886.

Building permits, inspections, zoning, and code compliance inside Jefferson. Use ext. 1 for permits, 2 for the building official, and 3 for code compliance.

Permits, inspections, zoning, and code enforcement in Braselton. Fences now need a permit. Request inspections by email before 3 PM for next-day service.

Law enforcement for unincorporated Jackson County, plus civil process and the jail.

Countywide non-emergency dispatch line, also used after hours by Braselton, Arcade, and Jefferson police.

Eleven independent fire departments cover the county by district; the fire district map PDF shows yours. Non-emergency lines: Jefferson FD (706) 367-2343, West Jackson FD (706) 654-2500, Commerce FD (706) 335-2190 (also covers East Jackson).

Ambulance service around the clock across the county, with nine ambulances and paramedic response trucks. Ambulance billing is handled by Digitech: 1-833-810-5005.

City police for Commerce. CID tip line: (706) 335-1847.

City police for Jefferson. For a non-emergency that still needs an officer, call Jackson County 911 at (706) 367-1911.

Officers are on duty 24 hours a day. Business-hours non-emergency: ext. 1101. After hours: (706) 367-1911.

City police for Hoschton.

Official statewide registry. Search by address or name. Registrations in Jackson County are handled at the Sheriff's Office.

The only motor-vehicle office in the county, open Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. New residents register within 30 days and need a Georgia license showing a Jackson County address. Title fee (TAVT) is 3% for new Georgia residents. Everyone listed on the title must be present.

Update or transfer your driver's license first. The tag office won't change a vehicle address until your license shows it.

Voter registration, polling places, and early voting, which is held at the Election Center at this address.

Check your registration, polling place, and sample ballot, or update your address after you move.

Main library in the county seat. The county has eight public libraries: Arcade, Braselton, Commerce, Nicholson, Jefferson, Maysville, Pendergrass, and Talmo.

Youth sports, programs, and facility rentals, all booked through the county's online registration site. Open Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM.

Stray, nuisance, and dangerous-animal complaints, plus adoptions. After-hours dog or cat bites: (706) 367-1911.

Soil tests ($8), lawn and garden advice, pond management, and 4-H.

Assigns 911 addresses, at $35 per new home. Also handles written address verification and street names. Email addressing@jacksoncountygov.com.

Shared-ride lift vans anywhere in the county and to Athens. Fares are $4 one way in the county and $9 one way out of the county. Call to schedule a ride.

Enter the address to see the official flood zone and FIRM panel.

Georgia DNR's flood map viewer, often easier than FEMA's for a quick parcel check.

County basemap with parcels and city limits. It's the county's recommended way to tell whether a property is in a city or unincorporated.

County stormwater program. Contact the stormwater specialist about drainage or pollution concerns.

County guidance on maintaining driveway culverts, ditches, swales, and backyard detention ponds.