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Animal Control

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1. I'm having a problem with wildlife on my property. What should I do?

Contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division at 706-595-4211. While live animal traps can be purchased at local hardware stores, it is not recommended that you handle wildlife. Also, feeding wildlife is strongly discouraged.

2. What should I do if my pet bites someone? Am I liable?

Generally, you are legally liable for your pet’s actions, and you can be held responsible in a criminal case. As such, you could be subject to subsequent litigation and potential damages for your pet’s actions.

If your pet does bite someone, including yourself, that person needs to seek medical attention and you need to report it to our office immediately. If the animal is not current on its rabies vaccination, the animal in question would have to be impounded for observation. In some cases, the animal will have to be euthanized and then tested for rabies.

For any rabies-related encounter, please report your experience to the Greene County Animal Control office, not the Health Department.

3. Does my pet have to be registered with the County?

No, but all pets have to be vaccinated for rabies by Georgia law.

4. What is considered animal cruelty?

See the County Ordinance concerning Animal Cruelty.

5. Where can I review the Animal Control ordinance?

Read the Animal Control Ordinance. If you have any further questions, you can call us at 706-454-7039.

6. Can you help me find my pet?

Yes, we can help you find your missing pet. The minute you discover that your pet is missing, contact our office at 706-454-7039. We will need as much detailed information about your pet as possible so that we can enter it into our system. All animals that are impounded are cross-checked with our lost/missing animal reports.

7. Can I bring my pet in for adoption?

Yes, you can bring in your pet for adoption. You must sign an owner surrender form and pay a small surrender fee.

8. Do you dispose of dead pets?

No, our office does not dispose of dead pets. Some veterinarians will dispose of animals. We recommend that you contact your local veterinarian for help.

9. How do I file a complaint about my neighbor's pet?

To file any animal-related complaints, you can contact our office at 706-454-7039.

10. What do I do if I suspect an animal has rabies?

If you have any questions or need to report any animal-related issues, please contact our office at 706-454-7039. Animal control wants to remind all pet owners to make sure that all pets are currently vaccinated for rabies; we also ask that you do not feed or attempt to handle any stray or wild animals.

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Building & Zoning

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1. I want to move a manufactured/mobile home into Greene County, what is my first step?

You must make an application with the Greene County Building and Zoning office for an out of town inspection. The fee is $100 for all out of town inspections of manufactured/mobile homes. Our inspection consists of both an interior inspection and an exterior inspection. All manufactured homes entering Greene County must bear an identification data plate issued by the Urban Housing Authority. The following links will provide detailed assistance:

• Mobile Manufactured Home Permitting Procedures
• Section 9.4 of the Greene County Code of Ordinances

2. What are the setbacks in Greene County?

View the following for information:

• Article VIII. - Area, Yard and Height Requirements [Section 8.1. - Generally.]

3. I want to work as a Builder or Trade Professional in the construction industry in Greene County. Do I need a State License?

See State License Requirements for the Construction Industry for more information.

4. Can I have an Inspector come out at a specified time?

Due to the size of Greene County and the volume of inspection requests received, we are unable to honor a request for a specific time.

5. If the power has been disconnected from my property, does the property have to be inspected before the power company will reconnect it?

Yes. In areas where electrical inspection is provided, the Public Service Commission requires that all wiring and equipment in or upon the premises of the Customer to the point of the service connection shall have the approval of an inspector from the constituted authority (cities and counties, for example) prior to connecting the Customer service to the Company’s system. Also, the Service Regulations of the Company on file with the Georgia Public Service Commission shall be met.

You will first need to contact your power provider and pay any requirements set forth by that provider. You would then need to contact the Greene County Building and Zoning Department at 706-453-3333 and fill out an application for an electrical permit. An inspector will then visit your residence and conduct both an interior and an exterior inspection of your electrical system. This inspection is conducted for your safety and the safety of the structure. 

If there are any deficiencies in your electrical system, those deficincies will need to be corrected before your power can be restored. Once you have received a successful inspection of your power system, a letter will be sent to your power provider to have the power restored at your property.

6. If I have a complaint about a permit, inspection or zoning problem, who do I contact?

Our office strives to offer a fair and unbiased experience while following the rules and regulations set in place by federal, state and county laws. If at any time you feel you need to have your situation reviewed, you may contact the Building Official either by email or by phone at 706-453-3333.

7. Does Greene County require an Occupational Tax Certificate from contractors and subcontractors to obtain a permit?

According to Greene County Muni Code Section 10-86. - Contractor’s responsibilities:

It shall be the duty of every contractor who shall make contracts for the installation or repairs of building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical, sprinkler or plumbing systems, for which a permit is required, to comply with state and local rules and regulations concerning licensing which the applicable governing authority may have adopted. In such case that the state requires a contractor to have obtained a state license before they are permitted to perform work, the contractor shall supply the building official with their license number before receiving a permit for work to be performed.

(Code 1998, § 17-109(E); Ordinance of December 9, 1999, § 17-109(E))

8. Does Greene County perform temporary power pole inspections?

• If your temporary power pole is part of the construction of a new dwelling, a signed letter by the Building Official is included in your residential building permit package that you will turn into your power provider to obtain electrical service.
• If your temporary power pole is not part of the construction of a new dwelling, an inspection is required for your temporary pole to be hooked up to the commercial power supply.

9. What type of business can I operate on my land?

Refer to Greene County’s Code of Ordinances. Part II, Chapter 31, Appendix B - Zoning.

10. Is a site plan required in Greene County?

A site plan drawn by a licensed surveyor is required for all permit applications applied for in Greene County.

11. Do you have plans in your office for review of a job built in Greene County?

To obtain a copy of the plans on a previous job, an Open Records Request will need to be completed.

12. I’m looking for someone to perform work at my house. Do you have a list of professional builders, engineers, or contractors you can recommend?

The Lake Oconee Builders Association (LOABA) has a list of the professional builders, engineers, and contractors in the lake Oconee area. Contact Wendy Daniel or Susie Noles at 706-999-1591 for a recommended professional for your project.

13. Where do I obtain a septic letter? How do I see if my parcel will perc for a septic permit?

To obtain a septic letter or perc test, contact the Greene County Environmental Health Manager at 706-453-7561.

14. I want to sub-divide my land and sell lots. What do I need to do?

You will first need to hire a licensed surveyor and have him or her draw a new plat to be submitted to the Greene County Building and Zoning office for review. Any land split that consist of five lots or less is considered a minor subdivision and can be approved by the Zoning Administrator. Any land split that consist of more than five lots is considered a major subdivision and a preliminary plat would be required. The preliminary plat would need to be filed with the Greene County Building and Zoning office along with a completed preliminary plat application. All preliminary plats for major subdivisions must first be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board and then recommended to the Board of Commissioners.

15. What permit application do I use for a remodel project in Greene County?

For a remodel project in Greene County that multiple trades would be involved in simply just complete the Building Permit Application (PDF).

16. Where can I obtain a Building Permit?

For the convenience of both our in-town and out-of-town contractors all of our Building Permits can be applied for and paid online.

17. Is there an Airport over-lay district?

Refer to the Greene County Zoning Map (PDF).

18. Is there a Short Term Rental Overlay District?

Refer to "How Can I Determine if My Home is in a Short Term Rental Overlay?".

19. Can I rent my house in Greene County?

If you own property in Greene County and you would like to rent your property for more than 31 days in a row you have the right to rent that home in any district located in Greene County. If you own a parcel of land in Greene County and would like to rent your parcel for less than 31 days in a row, you would first need to make sure your parcel of land is located in a Short-Term Rental Overlay District (STRO). If your property is zoned for short term rentals then you would then need to acquire a business license from Greene County. Hotel/Motel Taxes are required on short term rentals.

Helpful Links

• Hotel Motel Tax Ordinance Article III (PDF)
• Short Term Rental Ordinance Section 7.19. (PDF)

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Building & Zoning - Inspections Process

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1. What happens if a "stop work order" is posted at my job?

Immediately stop any and all work as far as land-disturbing activities, work on your:

• Accessory structures
• Dock
• Dwelling
• Seawall
• Swimming pool

After stopping all work, contact the Greene County Building and Zoning Department at 706-453-3333.

2. Who do I contact for inspections and permitting in any of the city limits?

See Cities for the contact information for:

• Greensboro
• Siloam
• Union Point
• White Plains
• Woodville

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Building & Zoning - Requirements for Obtaining Building Permits

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1. Can I send my new plat to the Greene County Building and Zoning office by email for review?

No. All plats to be reviewed and signed off on by the Building Official must be submitted to the Greene County Building and Zoning Department to scale and in a hard copy format.

2. When submitting plans for review. How many sets are required?

Sets Required for Residential & Commercial

• Residential Plan Reviews:
  • Construction Drawings - One Hard Copy and One PDF
  • Land Disturbance Documents - One Hard Copy and One PDF
• Commercial Plan Reviews
  • Construction Drawings - Two Hard Copies and One PDF
  • Land Disturbance Documents - Two Hard Copies and One PDF

Other Categories Requiring a Drawing

Applications for construction in the following categories must be accompanied with a drawing showing the seal of a registered professional engineer or architect licensed in the state of Georgia.

• All Group A, E, and I occupancies:
  • Assembly
  • Educational
  • Institutional
• Building and structures three stories or more high.
• Building and structure 5,000 square feet or more in area

3. Does Greene County do all of its plan reviews in house?

Greene County has a Memorandum of Agreement with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Land disturbance and residential construction plan reviews are performed in house by Greene County. Commercial plan reviews that do not require Georgia State Fire Marshalls Office approval are conducted in house.

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Building & Zoning - Short-Term Rentals

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1. How do I obtain a Georgia Sales and Use Tax ID Number?

A Georgia Sales and Use Tax number is required to complete the Short Term Rental application. You can apply for a Georgia Sales and Use Tax number through the Georgia Department of Revenue's website. 

2. When is a short-term rental business license not required?

If one of the following conditions is true, a short-term rental business license is not required:

1. When renting for 31 days or more
2. April 1 through April 15 as outlined in the Greene County Ordinance 7.19.3.4. Even though a business license is not required to rent out your property during these dates, you are still required to remit Hotel/Motel Taxes by May 20 of that same year.

3. What happens if I violate this ordinance and operate without a license?

Per 7.19.15.3 of the Greene County Ordinances, a short term rental that is determined to be operating without the necessary business license required under this section shall subject the owner to a penalty of $1,000. Each day the unit is marketed or rented for overnight accommodation shall constitute a separate violation.

4. How can I determine if my residence is in a short-term overlay district?

The Short-Term Rental Overlay (STRO) Districts can be viewed at the Greene County Assessors Office. See the directions below for viewing the STRO districts on the map in Greene County Assessors Office.

1. Once you have navigated to the Greene County Assessors Office, search the address in question. (Images 1 and 2).
2. Click on "Map" to navigate to the map view. (Image 3)
3. Once in the map view, on the left side of the screen, select "Short Term Rental Districts". Verify there is a checkmark in the box to the left of the selection. The Overlay Districts will then be highlighted in yellow. Zoom out for a better view of the area. (Image 4)

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

5. How can I rezone my property for short-term rental?

View instructions on rezoning your property for Short-Term Rental Overlay (STRO) per Greene County Ordinances.

7.19.3.2.1

In addition to the process for a zoning map amendment, as provided by Article XIII, Sections and 13.3 of this Chapter, an application for the establishment of a STRO district submitted by an individual(s) shall include a list of each and every owner of real property, as reflected on the County’s property tax records, or in the case of property that has been transferred since the last property tax return, the owner as reflected on a deed provided by the applicant evidencing such transfer from the owner as reflected on the County’s property tax records, in the residential community indicating their support for the STRO District (PDF). Such list shall include contact information for each owner to include phone number, email address, street address of the lot in the residential community, mailing address, and signature indicating support of the application (PDF). The list of property owners submitted pursuant to the application requirements shall reflect the support of owners of at least 60% of the legal parcels in the residential community. Notwithstanding the indication of support by other property owners, or lack thereof, the final decision with respect to the imposition of a Short Term Rental Overlay District shall be made by the Board of Commissioners in compliance with the procedures and standards set forth in Article XIII of this Chapter.

7.19.3.2.2

A developer of a residential community may apply for a STRO District for areas designated within the residential community provided that the developer is actively developing the residential community, and continues to own developable property in, or adjoining the residential community. Such an application shall clearly designate the area to which the STRO shall apply.

7.19.3.2.3

If granted, a STRO District shall be approved for a period of five years after final approval by the County and may be terminated or renewed after a public hearing following the same procedure required for the initial designation.

6. Why did I receive a tangible personal property tax assessment notice?

This is an ad valorem personal property tax. Anyone who has a proprietorship, partnership, corporation, is a self-employed agent or contractor, and anyone who leases, lends or rents property are required to complete a PT50P return (PDF) during the filing period of January 1 through April 1. There is no filing extension available.

Any questions regarding Tangible Personal Property Tax should be directed to the Tax Assessor’s Office at 706-453-3355.

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Building & Zoning - Zoning Administration Division

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1. How do I know whether to request a Rezoning, Conditional Use/Special Use Permit or a Variance?

Visit our pages dedicated to Rezoning, Conditional Use Permits and Variances. 

If you have further questions, contact the Zoning Department at (706) 453-3333 and someone will be glad to assist you.  

2. Where do I find Greene County's Comprehensive Plan?

View the Greene County Comprehensive Plan. The last update was in 2018.  

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Courts - Coroner

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1. How do I obtain a Coroner’s report, autopsy report and toxicology report?

In most cases the Coroner’s report is available within three business days. However in conjunction with any law enforcement agencies ongoing criminal investigation a Coroner’s report may be withheld to prevent any disclosure of privileged information that could harm the efforts of the investigation. Simple autopsy reports such as heart attacks or strokes, where the cause of death is obvious are normally ready within thirty days.

An autopsy report may take as long as 26 weeks, depending on the level and type of test being done.

Obtain Autopsy Reports

To obtain autopsy reports from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), please direct your Open Records Act requests (under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) to the Open Records Unit:

• By Mail:
  Open Records Unit
  Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  3121 Panthersville Road
  Decatur, GA 30034
• By Fax: 404-270-8529
• By Email:
  Email your request to Open Records

Information to Include

To assist you in obtaining the information that you need, please provide the following information in your request:

• The date of the investigation or incident associated with your request
• The Georgia county or city where the incident occurred
• The names of the subjects or victims of the investigation or report
• Your contact telephone number (and fax number if available)
• Your full name
• Your mailing address

All records requests are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act and may result in the requestor being billed for the requested information before the records are released. If you have questions, contact the GBI Open Records Unit at 404-270-8527.

2. How do I get a death certificate?

The funeral home selected by the family will generate a death certificate and send it to the Coroner’s Office for signature; we sign the certificate and return it to the funeral home which in turn files it with the Georgia Department of Health, Vital Records section.

3. Who decides if an autopsy is required?

The law. According to the law, the cause and manner of death must be determined for every death. In most non-violent cases, we use medical information from the decedent’s medical record and family history to establish the most likely cause of death. If medical evidence cannot be established from these sources, then an autopsy is required.

4. What happens to the personal property of the deceased?

Once the closest next of kinship has been established or a court order is issued naming an individual as the administrator of the estate, all property is released to that person or persons.

5. What happens to the prescription drugs issued to the deceased?

Federal Law states that it is a violation to be in possession of drugs not issued to you by prescription. Therefore, when a person dies, all drugs issued to the deceased person are removed and destroyed.

6. Does the Coroner's Office assist with funerals?

No. It is the family’s responsibility to assume custody of the decedent and bury the body. Even if there is no insurance on the decedent, it is not the responsibility of the Coroner’s Office to bury the family member.

7. What happens to unclaimed bodies?

If the death has occurred within the last couple of hours and the body can be or has been removed to a refrigerated (morgue) room and no next of kin is located the body may be turned over to science for research or teaching purposes. Some unclaimed bodies are cremated.

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Curbside Trash Service

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1. How do I pay for the curbside trash service?

You will not receive a bill for curbside waste collection. Rather, it is part of your annual property tax bill.

2. How do I start a trash service for a new or existing residence?

To set up weekly curbside waste collection at your residence, please fill out the Curbside Services Request Form form.  

3. Is there a way to remove this fee?

For complete guidelines and requirements see the Fee Removal Guidelines page.

4. How many carts can I have at my property?

You are billed for one cart on your annual property bill.  If you need additional carts, you will need to contact Waste Management at (478) 453-4435 and contract with them directly for each additional cart.

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Elections & Registration

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1. How do I check my voter registration?

Go to the My Voter Page website.

2. When can I vote during an election?

In Georgia, you can vote one of three ways.

Absentee Ballot

Absentee Ballots may be obtained by downloading an application from My Voter Page, by calling the office and requesting one be mailed or faxed to you or by coming into the office and picking up an application.

Early in-Person

Early in-Person (for 3 weeks prior to any city/county/state/federal election.  Early In-Person voting is only conducted at the Greene County Annex Building Monday through Friday,  8 am to 5 pm, located at:
1180 C Weldon Smith Drive
Greensboro, GA 30642

Election Day

You may vote on the designated Election Day. On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place. Your assigned polling place is shown on your voter registration card. You can find your polling location at My Voter Page or contact your county registrar’s office.

3. Where do I locate my voting district map for Greene County?

View the County Districts Map (PDF).

4. Where do I find out more about absentee ballots and/or check the status of an absentee ballot or provisional ballot?

Visit the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page to check the status of an Absentee Ballot Application and Ballot Status.  

5. Where and when can I vote early?

Visit the My Voter Page website.

If voting in a Political Party Primary, you must indicate a political party (Democrat, Non-Partisan, or Republican).

6. Where can I view a sample ballot for Greene County?

Visit the My Voter Page website.

7. Where can I obtain election results and statistics?

Go to the Georgia Secretary of State website to access this information.

8. Where can I find out more information about the candidates?

Go to the Georgia Secretary of State website to access this information.

9. Where can I find more general voter information?

Go to the Georgia Secretary of State website to access this information.

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Enhanced 911 Center

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1. What happens when I call 911?

As a caller you should expect to answer the following basic questions:

• What is happening?
  • Car crash, house fire, injured subject, etc.
• When did it happen
  • Something old or a situation in progress, etc.
• Where is the situation happening?
  • Address, building, intersection, etc.
• Who is involved?
  • "How many" and descriptions, calling party involvement, etc.

The call-taker may repeat back certain information including the address or phone number. It is important for you, the caller, to remain as calm as possible and allow the 911 operator to direct the conversation. This will ensure the quickest and most appropriate response.

2. What is Emergency Mode on my cell phone?

Once you have dialed 911 on your cell phone, it may place itself in “emergency mode.” This should prevent any incoming calls or texts other than a return call from dispatch, in case of a dropped call. Contact your service provider for more information about how this feature works on your phone.

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Public Works & Roads

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1. My driveway pipe is blocked or damaged. What do I do?

It is the Policy of the County to only address blockages of drainage pipes on County right-of-ways when such blockage, in the determination of the County, is causing a problem to the County road system. Examples of such problems may include instances where the blockage is causing water to run across the County road, or the standing water is believed to potentially undermine the stability of the roadbed.

Responsibility

It is customarily the case that driveways serving private property are the responsibility of the respective property owners to maintain, which would include instances where the driveway pipe is blocked and/or needs to be replaced. The County will, however, address any damage done to a driveway pipe if such damaged occurred as a result of County performed maintenance.

2. When are dirt roads scraped? How often?

The road scraping crew runs a route around the county. There are some roads that are scraped more often than others due to traffic. It generally takes about 8 weeks for us to make one trip around the county. Some roads will be scraped every trip, some will be scraped every other trip. There are a few roads that are only scraped once or twice a year. 

If you feel that the dirt road you live on needs additional work or just seems to be in particularly bad condition, don’t hesitate to call us at 706-453-3342.

3. When will the grass along the road be cut?

We start cutting grass on paved roads in the Spring, and we strive to cut all paved roads at least three times per year (or more, if weather permits).

We do not cut the grass on dirt roads as a matter of routine maintenance. We have a brush cutter for dirt roads that is used when needed. Generally, this cutting is done in the late fall or during the winter months.

4. What is used to determine when dirt roads are paved?

Decisions as to which dirt roads to pave are made by the Board of Commissioners based on need. Paving dirt roads is both very expensive and requires a large amount of human and equipment resources. While we have made considerable progress over the years, the fact remains that we still have over 145 miles of dirt road. The best thing to do is contact your commissioner or the Public Works Director and make your views known.

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Tax Assessor - Short-Term Rental Tangible Personal Property Tax

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1. Do other states have an ad valorem personal property tax?

In the United States, there are 39 states, including Georgia, that have an ad valorem personal property tax.

2. What is tangible personal property for a short-term rental?

Personal Property is generally defined as all goods or property other than real estate that the business owner can physically possess, has intrinsic value and that can be physically relocated. For example, furniture, equipment, and/or inventory that is used to conduct business.

Everything that is moveable, inside or outside, of the Short-Term Rental Property is considered personal property. This includes:

• All appliances
• Any and all kitchen wares used to provide the service
• Furnishings
• Hot tubs
• Linens
• Mattresses

Home Businesses

If you have a home business, any items used for a home business (including any personal items used for business purposes) is considered to be business personal property and must be reported.

3. Who files a return for tangible personal property?

Anyone who has a proprietorship, partnership, corporation, is a self-employed agent or contractor, and anyone who leases, lends or rents property must file a return for tangible personal property.

4. What items are to be included in the return?

• Inventory-supplies
• Furniture and Fixtures
• Machinery and Equipment
• Personally-owned property used in the business

5. What sources do the Tax Assessor's Office use for discovery of personal property?

Sources the Tax Assessor’s Office use for discovery of personal property include:

• Business Licenses
• Internet Searches
• Leased Equipment Personal Property
• Publications
• Sales Tax list provided by State, etc.
• Social Media

6. How and when are tangible personal property taxes required to be filed?

Taxpayers are required to complete a PT50P return during the filing period of January 1 through April 1. There are no filing extensions available.

7. What is the assessed value in Georgia?

In Georgia, the Assessed Value is 40% of the Fair Market Value.

Review this example of how the ad valorem taxes are calculated on the Fair Market Value of $100,000.

100,000
× 0.40 =
40,000 (assessed value or taxable value)
× 0.021445 (mill rate for your tax district) =
$857.80 (approximate yearly taxes)

8. How do I report my tangible personal property values?

All Short-Term owners in Greene County should report their assets owned, as of January 1, regardless of value. All assets are to be reported at the original cost new or replacement cost new. When reporting assets, be as detailed as possible to ensure accurate valuation.

Everything that is moveable, inside or outside, is considered personal property. This includes all:

• Any and all kitchen wares used to provide the service
• Appliances
• Furnishings
• Hot tubs
• Linens
• Mattresses

Personal Property Values Examples

Item	Age of Item	Original or Replacement Cost (New)
Dining room set	Purchased with Home	$800 estimated replacement cost
Kitchenware (pots, pans, dishes, etc.)	2 years	$800
Leather sofa	5 years	$800
Linens	2 years	$1,000
Refrigerator	10 years	$1,000

Items Purchased with Home

If you purchased the home with furnishings included, please highlight these items and estimate a new replacement cost. We will use the purchase date of the home as the age of the item.

Returned / Used Items

Please note that all items must be returned at the original cost new. In the case of used items, you must estimate the replacement cost for the item if you were to purchase it new today.

9. What happens if I don't file a return?

Failure to file a return will result in an estimate of value.

10. Who can I contact with questions?

If you have any questions or need help, please contact:
Debbie Moreno
Phone: 706-453-3355
Email Debbie Moreno