---
title: O.C.G.A. § 3-3-2. Powers of local governing authorities as to granting, refusal, suspension, or revocation of licenses generally; due process guidelines; fingerprints.
collection: code
id: 3-3-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 3-3-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/3-3-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/3-3-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/3-3-2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t1-t2-t3-(v3)-2019-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6ea3b7a1_0#page=679
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.
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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: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES / REGULATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 3-3-2. Powers of local governing authorities as to granting, refusal, suspension, or revocation of licenses generally; due process guidelines; fingerprints.

(a) Except as otherwise provided for in this title, the manufacturing, distributing, and selling by wholesale or retail of alcoholic beverages shall not be conducted in any county or incorporated municipality of this state without a permit or license from the governing authority of the county or municipality. Each such local governing authority is given discretionary powers within the guidelines of due process set forth in this Code section as to the granting or refusal, suspension, or revocation of the permits or licenses; provided, however, that residency by an applicant within the city or county issuing the permit or license shall not be a requirement by the respective local governing authority if the applicant designates a resident of the city or county who shall be responsible for any matter relating to the license.

(b) The granting or refusal and the suspension or revocation of the permits or licenses shall be in accordance with the following guidelines of due process:

(1) The governing authority shall set forth ascertainable standards in the local licensing ordinance upon which all decisions pertaining to these permits or licenses shall be based;

(2) All decisions approving, denying, suspending, or revoking the permits or licenses shall be in writing, with the reasons therefor stated, and shall be mailed or delivered to the applicant; and

(3) Upon timely application, any applicant aggrieved by the decision of the governing authority regarding a permit or license shall be afforded a hearing with an opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine opposing witnesses.

(c) As a prerequisite to the issuance of any such initial permit or license only, the applicant shall furnish a complete set of fingerprints to be forwarded to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which shall search the files of the Georgia Crime Information Center for any instance of criminal activity during the two years immediately preceding the date of the application. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation shall also submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the rules established by the United States Department of Justice for processing and identification of records. The federal record, if any, shall be obtained and returned to the governing authority submitting the fingerprints.

## History

Ga. L. 1935, p. 73, § 15A; Ga. L. 1973, p. 12, § 1; Ga. L. 1973, p. 14, § 1; Code 1933, § 5A-502, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1573, § 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1269, § 17; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1300, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 206, § 6/HB 1248.

## Cross References

Regulation of business of operating road houses, public dance halls, and other establishments by local governments, § 43-21-50 et seq.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey of administrative law, see 38 Mercer L. Rev. 17 (1986).

For comment on Hornsby v. Allen, 326 F.2d 605 (5th Cir. 1964), see 1 Ga. St. B. J. 550 (1965). For comment, ‘‘Retail Liquor Licenses and Due Process: The Creation of Property Through Regulation,’’ see 32 Emory L.J. 1199 (1983).

## Administrative Rules and Regulations

Rules regulating the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Rules of Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Chapter 92-1.