---
title: O.C.G.A. § 43-21-12. Loss of or injury to property by innkeeper.
collection: code
id: 43-21-12
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 43-21-12 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/43-21-12
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/43-21-12.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/43-21-12/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t43-ch1-32-(v30)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=921d056f_0#page=719
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: PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES / OPERATORS OF HOTELS, INNS, AND ROADHOUSES / RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND LIABILITIES OF INNKEEPERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 43-21-12. Loss of or injury to property by innkeeper.

In case of loss of property entrusted by a guest to an innkeeper, it will be presumed that the innkeeper failed to exercise extraordinary diligence with regard to such property. Negligence or default by the guest, of which the loss is a consequence, shall be a sufficient defense. The liability of the innkeeper for loss of or injury to personal property placed by any guest under the innkeeper’s care, other than valuable articles which must be delivered to the innkeeper to be deposited in a safe or other place of deposit, shall not exceed the sum of $1,000.00, provided that any guest may, at any time before loss, damage, or destruction of the guest’s property, notify the innkeeper in writing that the property of the guest exceeds in value the sum of $1,000.00 and shall, upon demand of the innkeeper, furnish the innkeeper a list or schedule of the same, with the value thereof, in which case the innkeeper shall be liable for the full value of such property in case of loss, damage, or destruction because of negligence on the innkeeper’s part; provided, further, that the innkeeper shall post a copy of this Code section, printed in distinct type, on the inside of the door of the guest’s room. The innkeeper may adopt reasonable regulations for the innkeeper’s protection, and the publication of such rules to the innkeeper’s guests shall bind them to comply therewith.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2099; Code 1868, § 2094; Code 1873, § 2120; Code 1882, § 2120; Civil Code 1895, § 2938; Civil Code 1910, § 3511; Ga. L. 1922, p. 52, § 2; Code 1933, § 52-111; Ga. L. 1984, p. 924, § 3.