---
title: O.C.G.A. § 52-7-70. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 52-7-70
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 52-7-70 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-7-70
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-7-70.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-7-70/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d23ba203_0#page=182
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: WATERS OF THE STATE, PORTS, AND WATERCRAFT / REGISTRATION, OPERATION, AND SALE OF WATERCRAFT / ABANDONED VESSELS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 52-7-70. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) ‘‘Abandoned vessel’’ means a vessel:

(A) Which has been left by the owner or some person acting for the owner with a vessel dealer, repairman, or wrecker service for repair or for some other reason and has not been called for by such owner or other person within a period of 30 days after the time agreed upon; or within 30 days after such vessel is turned over to such dealer, repairman, or wrecker service when no time is agreed upon; or within 30 days after the completion of necessary repairs;

(B) Which is left unattended upon or in any public water or at any port in this state without the consent of the agency having jurisdiction or docked at any private property without the consent of the owner of such property for a period of at least five days and when it reasonably appears to a law enforcement officer that the individual who left such vessel unattended does not intend to return and remove such vessel;

(C) Which has been lawfully towed onto the property of another at the request of a law enforcement officer and left there for a period of not less than 30 days without anyone’s having made claim thereto;

(D) Which has been lawfully towed onto the property of another at the request of a property owner on whose property the vessel was abandoned and left there for a period of not less than 30 days without the owner’s having made claim thereto; or

(E) Which has been left unattended on private property for a period of not less than 30 days without anyone’s having made claim thereto.

(2) ‘‘Owner’’ means the owner, lessor, lessee, security interest holders, and all lienholders as shown on the records of the Department of Natural Resources.

(3) ‘‘Vessel’’ means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water and specifically includes, but is not limited to, inflatable rafts.

## History

Code 1981, § 52-7-70, enacted by Ga. L. 1989, p. 613, § 1.