---
title: O.C.G.A. § 45-6-5. Source of powers of public officers generally; estoppel.
collection: code
id: 45-6-5
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 45-6-5 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-6-5
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-6-5.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-6-5/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t45-(v33)-2016-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cde47f8a_0#page=101
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/45-6.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-6-4.md
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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: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES / POWERS AND DUTIES GENERALLY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 45-6-5. Source of powers of public officers generally; estoppel.

Powers of all public officers are defined by law and all persons must take notice thereof. The public may not be estopped by the acts of any officer done in the exercise of an unconferred power.

## History

Civil Code 1895, § 268; Civil Code 1910, § 303; Code 1933, § 89-903.

## Cross References

Liability of public agents on public contracts, § 10-6-88.

## Law Reviews

For survey article on local government law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 285 (2007). For annual survey on local government law, see 61 Mercer L. Rev. 255 (2009).

## History of Code Section.

This Code section is derived from the decision in Penitentiary Co. No. 2 v. Gordon, 85 Ga. 159, 11 S.E. 584 (1890).