Government Operations Committee approves renter outreach, asks staff to study voluntary landlord registry

At its March 16, 2026 meeting, the Government Operations Committee voted to approve enhanced outreach to renters and asked staff to come back with recommendations and cost estimates for establishing a voluntary landlord registry and a public dashboard of code-enforcement activity.

During a presentation that opened the session, a housing official explained the legal constraints that shape local options: “State law does not allow interactions in private contracts,” the HCD representative said, noting a statutory citation the office referenced as “447119.” The presenter said those limits bar local rent caps, restrict regulation of rent amounts and sources, and prevent a mandated registry that would compel landlords to enroll properties or submit vacancy and rental-source data.

Code enforcement described the county's use of the International Property Maintenance Code (the department said it currently uses the 2018 edition as referred by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs). Inspectors said they perform exterior patrols and can schedule interior inspections only after a tenant or complainant gives permission; for many interior habitability items staff said they must show probable cause visible from the outside before gaining further access.

Code enforcement reported its caseload since August 2024: “We've had 324 total housing cases,” the presenter said, adding that most were resolved with warning notices. Staff gave the breakdown: 288 cases closed by warning, 32 active cases and four cases resolved by citation.

Committee members discussed options focused on education and transparency rather than new regulatory powers. Staff proposed putting a rental-repair guide into the county water-bill insert (estimated cost about $3,000), using an existing monthly newsletter at no cost, posting resources on social media and incorporating content into the county's 2027 guide. They also showed a Lawrenceville example of a public dashboard that tracks complaints and closures and allows users to see whether enforcement activity was complaint-driven or proactive.

On the question of a landlord registry, staff urged caution. They said a useful registry that includes inspections, annual follow-ups and compliance monitoring is staff-intensive and may require incentives to attract participation. One outreach estimate discussed during the meeting was roughly $6,000 to support printed inserts and targeted outreach; staff said the dashboard itself could likely be created by merging existing data systems if automation reduces manual inputs.

Members also explored existing public sources as starting points: the Georgia Department of Community Affairs maintains a searchable property list at georgiahousing.org, and state tax and business-license records contain landlord listings that may be usable as a nonregulatory starting inventory.

After discussion the committee moved, seconded and approved a motion to implement Option B (enhanced outreach and communication) and to have staff return with more detailed recommendations and cost estimates for Option C (a voluntary registry and dashboard). The motion was approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The committee's decision emphasizes information and transparency rather than new local regulatory authority, reflecting presenters' repeated reminder that state law constrains mandatory registries and rent regulation. Staff said they will return with examples, cost estimates and any legal analysis from the county attorney's office on registry design and potential incentives.