HB 44: Protections for Consumers Using Self-service Storage Facilities Act; enact

Georgia law currently has few specific rules governing self-service storage facilities and how they treat renters. This bill would add a new article to the state's warehouse law requiring facility owners to post updated information about building age, past damage, repairs, code inspections, pest control, and crime at the facility. Owners would have to control pests, notify occupants within 24 hours of a confirmed infestation, and keep a complaint log available to code enforcement officials for five years. The bill also sets rental agreement disclosure requirements, such as listing the monthly rate, fees, and maximum value of property allowed in a unit. It caps rent increases at 50 percent per year and no more than twice a year, and bans certain deceptive advertising practices, enforceable under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act. Separately, it changes insurance disclosure rules for limited licensees who sell storage insurance, requiring them to disclose compensation and reverses a rule about handling occupant funds. The law would take effect when signed and apply to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

• Requires storage facility owners to post and regularly update a notice listing the building's age, damage history, repairs, code inspections, pest control history, and crime incidents.
• Requires owners to actively control pests and notify occupants by posted notice and email within 24 hours of a confirmed infestation.
• Requires owners to maintain a complaint system, keep complaint records for five years, and share them with code enforcement inspectors on request.
• Requires rental agreements to disclose the monthly rate, per-square-foot cost, fees, climate control status, access rules, onsite management, and maximum stored property value.
• Caps monthly rent increases at 50 percent per year and no more than two increases per year, and bans certain misleading advertising about unit availability and coverage limits.
• Changes insurance disclosure rules for limited licensees selling storage insurance, adding new required disclosures and altering how occupant funds must be handled.

People who rent units at self-service storage facilities in Georgia, facility owners and operators, code enforcement inspectors who investigate complaints, the state warehouse commissioner who would enforce new rules, and insurance agents holding limited licenses to sell storage-related coverage.

Renters would get more information up front about a facility's safety history and clearer limits on rent hikes and misleading ads, while facility owners would face new posting, pest control, and complaint-tracking duties. Insurance buyers would also get clearer disclosures about coverage and compensation.

• New Code Section 10-4-221 requires owners to meet building code requirements and post updated facility information, including damage, repairs, and crime history, within 30 days of any change.
• New Code Section 10-4-222 requires ongoing pest control measures and notice to occupants within 24 hours of a confirmed infestation.
• New Code Section 10-4-223 requires owners to maintain a complaint system, keep records for five years, and share them with code enforcement inspectors.
• New Code Section 10-4-224 sets rental agreement disclosure requirements and defines unlawful trade practices, including a 50 percent annual cap on rent increases and limits on deceptive advertising.
• New Code Section 10-4-225 makes violations enforceable through the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, allowing civil remedies and enforcement by the state warehouse commissioner.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-23-12 to require limited insurance licensees to disclose compensation received and state that insurance purchase is not required to buy other storage services.
• Section 3 also changes whether limited licensees must treat occupant payments as funds held in a fiduciary capacity, now requiring such treatment when charges are itemized and tied to a rental agreement.
• Section 4 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's signature, applying to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

1. 2025-01-16House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-15House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-14House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• self-storage facilities
• consumer protection
• rent increase limits
• insurance disclosures
• pest control regulations