---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-53. Creation of authorities.
collection: code
id: 12-8-53
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-53 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-53
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-53.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-53/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=923
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/12-8.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-52.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-54.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 / WASTE MANAGEMENT / SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT / REGIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-8-53. Creation of authorities.

(a) There is created in and for each county and municipal corporation in this state a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the ‘‘solid waste management authority’’ of such county or municipal corporation. No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this part until the governing body of the county by proper resolution of its board of commissioners, or, if a municipal corporation, by proper ordinance or resolution of its council, declares that there is a need for an authority to function in the county or municipal corporation.

(b) Any two or more counties or municipal corporations or a combination thereof may jointly form an authority, to be known as the ‘‘regional solid waste management authority’’ for such counties and municipal corporations. No authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers under this part until the governing authorities of the units of local government involved declare, by ordinance or resolution, that there is a need for an authority to function and until the governing authorities authorize the chief elected official of the unit of local government to enter into an agreement with the other units of local government for the activation of an authority and such agreement is executed.

## History

Code 1981, § 12-8-53, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 412, § 1.