---
title: O.C.G.A. § 36-36-116. Appeal.
collection: code
id: 36-36-116
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 36-36-116 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/36-36-116
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/36-36-116.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/36-36-116/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=790
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 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LOCAL GOVERNMENT / Provisions Applicable to Municipal Corporations Only / ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY / PROCEDURE FOR RESOLVING ANNEXATION DISPUTES
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:unap-pealed
---

# O.C.G.A. § 36-36-116. Appeal.

The municipal or county governing authority or an applicant for annexation may appeal the decision of the arbitration panel by filing an action in the superior court of the county within ten calendar days from receipt of the panel’s findings and recommendations. The sole grounds for appeal shall be to correct errors of fact or of law, the bias or misconduct of an arbitrator, or the panel’s abuse of discretion. The superior court shall schedule an expedited appeal and shall render a decision within 20 days from the date of filing. If the court finds that an error of fact or law has been made, that an arbitrator was biased or engaged in misconduct, or that the panel has abused its discretion, the court shall issue such orders governing the proposed annexation as the circumstances may require, including remand to the panel. Any unappealed order shall be binding upon the parties. The appeal shall be assigned to a judge who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located.

## History

Code 1981, § 36-36-116, enacted by Ga. L. 2007, p. 292, § 2/HB 2; Ga. L. 2022, p. 367, § 1/HB 1461.

## Law Reviews

For survey article on local government law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 285 (2007).

For survey article on local government law, see 60 Mercer L. Rev. 263 (2008).