County resources
Utilities, schools, property records, homestead filing and more for new and soon-to-be homeowners in Watkinsville, Bogart, Bishop, North High Shoals.
Good to know: utility providers and school zones can depend on your exact address — always confirm with the provider. Information is provided as a convenience and may change; let us know if you spot something out of date.
Most Oconee County offices, including the Tax Commissioner and Property Appraisal, are now in the county government building at 7635 Macon Hwy. The Clerk of Courts is still at the historic courthouse, 23 N. Main St.
Official parcel search linked from the county homepage. It shows owner, acreage, assessed value, sales and homestead status. The site blocks automated checks but opens in a browser.
Sets property values, handles assessment notices and appeals, and keeps tax maps. Open Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Handles property tax bills, homestead applications and vehicle tags. Open Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Email taxoffice@oconee.ga.us or text (706) 765-7790.
The Tax Commissioner's official online payment portal. It blocks automated checks but opens in a browser.
Records deeds, plats and liens. Open Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1099, Watkinsville, GA 30677.
The Georgia clerks' statewide online index for searching deed and plat records, including Oconee County's.
In Oconee County you file for homestead with the Tax Commissioner by April 1 of the first tax year you want it. You must own and live in the home as your primary residence on January 1. Once approved, it renews automatically until the home changes owners.
Book a filing appointment through the Tax Commissioner's official scheduler. The county doesn't offer online homestead filing. Call to confirm which documents to bring (typically a Georgia ID at the new address and the recorded deed).
The official brochure. The filing deadline is April 1. To see whether a home already has homestead, check the exemption line in the property's qPublic summary.
Voters approved changes in May 2024, effective January 1, 2025. The general exemption rose from $2,000 to $5,000, with a further increase to $10,000 scheduled for 2035. The assessed value freezes automatically at age 65, and an extra $10,000 exemption is added automatically at age 75. These changes apply to both county and school taxes. Income-based local senior exemptions are closed to new applicants.
The state's overview of homestead exemptions, including senior, disabled veteran and surviving spouse exemptions.
Oconee County Water Resources provides public water and sewer across the county. The City of Watkinsville's own 'Water Resources' web page forwards to the county department. Many rural homes use private wells and septic systems instead (see Septic & Wells).
Public water and sewer provider. Open Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mailing address: 7635 Macon Hwy, Box 600. Also call this number for water line problems or sewer overflows.
First call to confirm the county serves the address. Then submit an application, a copy of your driver's license (plus the lease if renting) and the deposit. There is no same-day service: applications must be complete and paid by 3 p.m. for next-day service.
Online account and bill pay. The listed number is for pay-by-phone, and fees apply.
Annual drinking water quality reports. Oconee County's system and the Appalachee Point system each have their own report.
The county's even/odd outdoor watering schedule.
Bogart's municipal services page lists trash and recycling but no city water utility. Confirm the water provider for a Bogart address with City Hall or Oconee County Water Resources. Part of Bogart extends into Clarke County.
Septic permits, existing-system evaluations and records are handled by Oconee County Environmental Health, part of the Northeast Health District under Georgia DPH. Well water testing kits are available through the UGA Extension Oconee County office.
Handles septic permits, repairs, existing-system evaluations and well guidance. Office hours are Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Email oconee.eh@dph.ga.gov.
Explains how to request an evaluation of an existing system, which is useful during due diligence.
Basic care and maintenance of a septic system.
The district overview of septic permits, repair permits, existing-system evaluations and site evaluations.
Sells water test kits, including the W33C Private Well Chemical Test, and does soil testing. Open Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., closed noon–1 p.m. The address comes from the county directory.
Linked from the county site. Recommends a bacteria test every year and a W33C chemical screen every 3 years, and explains setback rules.
UGA's guide to private well testing.
A private company listed on the team's earlier resource page. It is not a government service.
Oconee County's new-resident page lists three electric providers: Georgia Power, Walton EMC and Rayle EMC. Your provider depends on the address. Jackson EMC's own service-area list does not include Oconee County. Oconee EMC is a different co-op based in Dudley, GA, and is not listed by the county.
The main electric co-op for much of Oconee County. Customer care is available Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Start service online from its website, which blocks automated checks but opens in a browser.
Serves parts of the county. Call or go online to start or move service.
Serves a small part of the county. The phone and address are for its main office in Washington, GA.
Georgia's natural gas market is deregulated. Atlanta Gas Light owns and maintains the pipes and meters and handles leaks, but you buy gas from a PSC-certified marketer of your choice. Not every Oconee address has gas service.
Report gas leaks or odors 24/7. Call from a safe location away from the leak.
Questions about lines and meters. Available Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Call 811 before you dig.
The official list of marketers you can buy gas from. The Oconee County new-resident page points residents to the PSC.
A PSC-certified marketer run by the local electric co-op. The phone number is from the PSC's marketer list. The site blocks automated checks but opens in a browser.
Oconee County does not collect trash, recycling or yard debris. In unincorporated areas, either hire a private hauler or use the county's free Waste & Recycling Sites. Inside Watkinsville and Bogart city limits, the city provides pickup.
Four sites: 2001 Greensboro Hwy, 6858 Hog Mountain Rd, 1030 Rankin Rd and 2721 Macon Hwy (Farmington). Open Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat. Recycling is free. Pay-As-You-Throw bags for household trash are sold at each site. Bring proof of residency. No construction or demolition debris. The phone is Keep Oconee County Beautiful's recycling line.
Drop-off information for items the regular recycling sites don't take.
City residents get weekly Wednesday garbage pickup and leaf and limb pickup at no extra charge, through contractor Curbside Services. Curbside recycling is an optional $13/month you pay Curbside Services directly. The phone is Curbside Services. City Hall is (706) 769-5161.
Weekly garbage pickup starts Mondays, and curbside recycling is every other week. To request carts, call the city maintenance numbers listed on the page. The phone is Bogart City Hall.
Internet availability varies by street, especially in rural parts of the county. Always check the exact address.
The official federal map showing every provider reported at a specific address. It blocks automated checks but opens in a browser.
Cable internet. Oconee County partnered with Spectrum on a rural broadband buildout that reached about 2,500 previously unserved addresses. The site blocks automated checks but opens in a browser.
Fiber or other service depending on the address. Enter the address to check.
Background on the county–Spectrum rural expansion.
Oconee County Schools serves the whole county. School assignment depends on your home address, so check the official zone tool before you rely on it.
The zone tool linked by Oconee County Schools. Choose the grade and enter the address. It shows the attendance zone only, not the bus stop.
The district page for zone information and bus route and tracking resources.
Online registration through Infinite Campus. The page lists required documents, including proof of residency, and each school's registrar.
Helps with enrollment and zone questions.
Oconee County Planning & Code Enforcement handles zoning and building permits for unincorporated areas. Bogart contracts its inspections to the county. Watkinsville runs its own zoning and permits.
Handles zoning verification, plat review and rezoning. Use (706) 769-3907 for permits, inspections and code enforcement. Email ocplanning@oconee.ga.us or ocbuilding@oconee.ga.us.
Building permit forms and checklists.
The county's online system for applying for permits and requesting inspections.
Zoning districts, permitted uses and development standards.
The county GIS office.
Public maps and data, including the county zoning map.
City zoning ordinance, zoning map, and rezoning and variance applications. The phone is City Hall at 191 VFW Dr.
Permit applications for properties inside city limits.
Bogart Unified Development Code (adopted 8/12/2024) and permit forms. Inspections are contracted to Oconee County.
Call 911 for emergencies.
The listed phone is the non-emergency line, from the county's sheriff contact page. The administrative line is (706) 769-3945.
Covers Watkinsville city limits. The page lists contact numbers for individual officers.
The Sheriff's local registry page.
Search by address nationwide.
Register vehicles and change your tag address here. Tag renewals can also be done online, and the Tax Commissioner's site links to the state's renewal portal.
State title and registration rules and online services.
Register to vote or update your address online.
The county's new-resident hub. The Welcome Center at 1070 Founders Blvd, Athens, has welcome packets, and the listed phone is the Welcome Center's.
Call the county Road Department for potholes, signs and signals on county roads. Report water line problems to Water Resources at (706) 769-3960.
Search an address to see its official flood zone and download the FIRM panel.
The city's flood map page.
Handles building and development permits in unincorporated Oconee County. Contact it with questions about building in a floodplain.
Buying in a neighborhood with an HOA? Read the covenants during due diligence.
Use our under-contract checklist, find trusted local pros, or ask your agent anything.