In Athens, parking is a University of Georgia story. Student rentals dominate the market, downtown fills on game days, and a single unauthorized car can block a space a paying resident needs. Managing it cleanly means letting guests register themselves and keeping records that hold up — which is where Georgia's signage law comes in.
What Georgia law says about towing from private property
Private-property towing in Georgia is governed by O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13. For any community with more than four residential units, before a vehicle can be towed:
- Signs must be posted within 50 feet of each entrance to the property.
- Signage must be in place for at least 24 hours beforehand.
- The notice must list where the vehicle can be recovered, the cost, and accepted forms of payment.
Properties with four or fewer units are exempt from posting, but the student-apartment communities that define Athens are not.
How Athens operators stay compliant and get paid
- Plate-level permits so residents and guests are identified by plate before anything is towed.
- A timestamped permit record that backs up a lawful tow if it is ever questioned.
- QR-code signage that satisfies your notice obligation and lets game-day guests self-register and pay.
Why Athens properties choose OpenParking
Guests scan a QR code, register their plate, and pay directly to you — your property keeps 100% of the parking revenue via Stripe. Five-minute setup, no contract, free to use — a small service fee is added to each permit sale and paid by the parker.
This page is general information about Georgia parking enforcement, not legal advice. Confirm current signage and notice requirements with a Georgia attorney or your local ordinance before towing.