The Atlanta security deposit demand letter that gets deposits back.
Your Atlanta landlord must act within 30 days after termination and delivery of possession under Ga. Code § 44-7-34, § 44-7-35. If they missed it, the statute is written on your side. We cite the statute, mail your demand USPS Certified, and track the response.
The law that protects your deposit
Deposits in Atlanta are governed by Georgia state law: Ga. Code § 44-7-34, § 44-7-35. Failure to return or wrongful withholding can make the landlord liable for three times the sum improperly withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 44-7-35(c)); procedural noncompliance forfeits the right to withhold anything (§ 44-7-35(b)). Full Georgia deadline & penalty guide →
If the landlord ignores your letter
Deposit claims from Atlanta are typically filed in the small-claims court serving Fulton County — designed for people without lawyers, with modest filing fees.
Atlanta at a glance
Population ~510,000 (U.S. Census 2024 estimate, rounded). Every deposit dispute here runs on the same clock: the 30-day statutory window — and a certified letter is the documented first step.
General legal information, not legal advice. City-specific ordinances change; verify current rules or consult a licensed Georgia attorney.