---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-11-9. No duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force.
collection: code
id: 51-11-9
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-11-9 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-9
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-9.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-9/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=90608a4d_0#page=81
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/51-11.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / DEFENSES TO TORT ACTIONS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-11-9. No duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force.

A person who is justified in threatening or using force against another under the provisions of Code Section 16-3-20, relating to justification as a defense, Code Section 16-3-21, relating to the use of force in defense of self or others, Code Section 16-3-23, relating to the use of force in defense of a habitation, Code Section 16-3-24, relating to the use of force in defense of property other than a habitation, or Code Section 17-4-20, relating to arrests and use of force by law enforcement officers, has no duty to retreat from the use of such force and shall not be held liable to the person against whom the use of force was justified or to any person acting as an accomplice or assistant to such person in any civil action brought as a result of the threat or use of such force.

## History

Code 1981, § 51-11-9, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 515, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 477, § 3/SB 396; Ga. L. 2024, p. 543, § 2/SB 517, effective May 2, 2024.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2024, p. 543, § 3/SB 517, not codified by the General Assembly, makes this Code section applicable to all offenses committed and causes of action accruing on or after May 2, 2024.

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective May 2, 2024, inserted “Code Section 16-3-20, relating to justification as a defense,”, deleted “or” preceding “Code Section 16-3-24”, and inserted “or Code Section 17-4-20, relating to arrests and use of force by law enforcement officers,”. See Editor’s notes for applicability.