---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-5-297. Liability for damages.
collection: code
id: 12-5-297
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-5-297 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-297
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-297.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-297/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=574
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-296.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-310.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / WATER RESOURCES / COASTAL WATERS, BEACHES, AND SAND DUNES / COASTAL MARSHLANDS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-5-297. Liability for damages.

Any person who causes or permits any removal, filling, dredging, or draining or other alteration of marshlands in this state within the estuarine area thereof without first obtaining a permit from the committee shall be liable in damages to the state and any political subdivision thereof for any and all actual or projected costs, expenses, and injuries occasioned by such alteration of the marshlands. The amount of damages assessed pursuant to this Code section shall include, but shall not be limited to, any actual or projected costs and expenses incurred by the state or any political subdivision thereof in restoring as nearly as possible the natural movement of the waters in the marshlands and replacing the vegetation and aquatic life destroyed by any alteration of marshlands. Damages to the state shall be recoverable in a civil action instituted by the department and shall be paid to the department to cover the cost of restoration. Damages to a political subdivision shall be recoverable in a civil action instituted by said subdivision.

## History

Code 1981, § 12-5-297, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 2294, § 1.