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Government

City of Cornelia

The City of Cornelia, founded around 1870, was known as "Tom Paine's Post Office," "Blaine" (railroad depot) and "Rabun Gap Junction" (homes) before being incorporated as "Cornelia" on October 22, 1887. Named for Cornelia Barrow, Judge Barrow's wife, it sits approximately 1,520 feet (between 1,400 and 1,680 feet) above sea level and is home to around 3,200 residents.

Cornelia is proud of its two national historic structures, Cornelia Community Center and Chenocetah Tower, as well as its other two landmarks, Big Red Apple Monument and Park and the restored Railroad Depot.

Building Permits
The City of Cornelia requires a permit for certain types of remodeling, construction or installation done within city limits, including the following:

  • Construction/remodeling of a residential or commercial building
  • Grading
  • Demolition
  • Adding accessory structures, pools, fences and decks
  • Installing manufactured/mobile home, cellular or other towers, retaining walls, septic tanks and signs

"Remodeling" means the repair, alteration or replacement of electrical, plumbing or HVAC components and structural components such as foundation, framing and walls. The Building Inspector may determine that plans are not necessary for some minor remodeling jobs.

Minor or ordinary repairs that do not require a permit include such items as: painting and other cosmetic improvements, owner replacement of fixtures, and other work that does not include the repair, alteration, replacement or relocation of structural components such as foundations, framing, walls, or electrical, plumbing or HVAC components or systems.

The list may not be all-inclusive and is subject to change at any time. For more information about when to obtain a permit and what is required to do so, please contact City Hall. To build, remodel, grade, etc outside city limits, contact the Habersham County Building and Planning Department.

Permit Fees
Lists of building permit fees are available in the Document Center.

Occupation Tax
Every year a Certification for Occupation Tax, also called "occupation tax," is levied on all businesses and practitioners of professions and occupations that have one or more locations within the city. Some out-of-state businesses with no locations or offices in Georgia are also subject to this tax. Tax is payable by March 31 of each year. There are two methods for calculating the amount of tax:

Method 1: Professionals: Practitioners of professions such as: Lawyers, physicians, osteopaths, chiropractors, podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, psychologists, veterinarians, landscape architects, land surveyors, practitioners of physiotherapy, public accountants, embalmers, funeral directors, civil, mechanical, hydraulic or electrical engineers, architects, marriage and family therapists, social workers and professional counselors or practitioners as described in O.C.G.A. Section 48-13-9(c), paragraphs 1-18.

Number of professionals, including owner(s) in the business:       x $100** = tax amount

Method 2: All other occupations: Using the rate chart below, find the tax due using the number of employees (full- or part-time, temporary or under contract of service), including business owners, employed as of September 30:

Number of Employees Tax Rate Administrative Fee Total Tax To Be Paid
1-2 $60 $5 $65
3-5 $135 $5 $140
6-10 $180 $5 $185
11-25 $248 $5 $253
26-50 $390 $5 $395
51-100 $675 $5 $680
101-150 $975 $5 $980
151-250 $1,275 $5 $1,280
251-500 $1,500 $5 $1,505
501-1000 $2,250 $5 $2,255
1001 and up $3,000 $5 $3,005

Better Hometown Award
Cornelia is one of 59 Georgia cities which have earned a "Better Hometown" award. What is the Better Hometown Program? How does a city qualify for this award? And what are the benefits of being selected?

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs', Office of Downtown Development (ODD) coordinates the Better Hometown Program. This program assists Georgia cities, neighborhoods and small towns in the development/redevelopment of their core commercial areas. Assistance provided by the Office of Downtown Development emphasizes community-based, self-help efforts grounded in the principles of professional, comprehensive management of core commercial district within the context of historic preservation and the National Main Street Center's Four-point Approach to Downtown Revitalization: Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring and Promotion.

Generally, to be considered for this award a city should have a population of less than 10,000. Once an application has been submitted to the Department of Community Affairs, various workshops are held for the candidates, and Hometown staff visit each participant.

Once selected, the city receives technical assistance, advice, training, on-site visits, and design services to help in implementing the program. But, of course, the benefits are not to the city alone: residents can look forward to an improved quality of life!

Yard Sale Guidelines
Yard sales have become a common way for people to sell items they no longer want or to pick up a bargain. Still, because they can be the cause of traffic hazards and other potential problems, a written notice must be filed with the Secretary of the City Commission at least two and no more than seven days prior to the sale. Regardless of its name or location, any sale of personal property acquired by a household in the normal course of living or maintaining a residence is considered a "yard sale."

In addition, the owner and/or tenant of the premises where the sale is to be held and any participants have the responsibility to ensure that:

  • Order is maintained
  • Public and private right-of-way is respected
  • Cars are parked legally and traffic is not impeded
  • Signs are installed and removed according to regulations
  • The maximum number of yard sales permitted at one location in a calendar year is not to exceed four.

Anyone wishing to conduct a yard sale should apply at City Hall and may, at the same time, pick up a copy of the uncomplicated regulations that will help ensure the safety and order -- and enjoyment -- of buyer and seller alike.

Contact Information

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 785 Cornelia, GA 30531
Location: 181 Larkin Street Cornelia, GA 30531

Phone: 706-778-8585 Fax: 706-778-2234

Margaret Ballard, Mayor

Website: www.Corneliageorgia.org

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