Helpful Relocation Resources for Atlanta, GA Newcomers

Vehicle Registration

Register your vehicle within 30 days. Use the Georgia DRIVES online system or visit the Fulton County Tag Office in person. Annual renewal required.

Voter Registration

Register online at Georgia My Voter Page, by mail, or in person at any county elections office. The deadline is 29 days before an election.

Utilities Setup

Electricity: Georgia Power serves most of the Atlanta metro. Start service online at Georgia Power Start Service.

Natural gas: Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) maintains the distribution pipelines, but Georgia's gas market is deregulated—you choose a certified gas marketer separately. Compare certified marketers through the Georgia Public Service Commission. AGL handles all pipeline emergencies: 770-907-4231 (metro Atlanta).

Water/sewer: Contact the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management at (404) 546-0311 or online.

Internet providers serving most of Atlanta include Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Fiber, and Google Fiber (select neighborhoods).

Pet Registration

Dogs and cats must be licensed annually with proof of a current rabies vaccination. Register with Fulton County Animal Services.

School Enrollment

Required documents for APS enrollment: proof of address, birth certificate, Georgia immunization form (Form 3231), and eye/hearing/dental certificate (Form 3300). Magnet program applications have separate deadlines, typically November through January for fall enrollment.

Charter & Private

Georgia's private school directory is available through the Georgia Department of Education. The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) is available for students with IEPs transferring from public schools.

Higher Education

Major institutions in Atlanta include Georgia Tech, Emory University, Georgia State University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. Georgia residency for in-state tuition requires 12 months of domicile in the state.

Child Care

Bright from the Start is Georgia's child care licensing and subsidy agency. Income-based subsidies are available for qualifying families via United Way 211 Atlanta.

Finding a PCP

Use your insurance company's provider finder to identify in-network physicians near your new address. Emory, Piedmont, and Wellstar each maintain online provider directories linked above.

Urgent Care

Wellstar Urgent Care operates locations across the Atlanta metro with walk-in availability and online check-in. Piedmont Urgent Care accepts walk-ins and online scheduling. For pediatric urgent care, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) operates urgent care locations across the metro.

Mental Health

The Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) provides 24/7 crisis intervention and behavioral health linkage statewide: 1-800-715-4225. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available by call or text.

Pharmacy

Major pharmacy chains with extensive Atlanta-area coverage include CVS, Walgreens, Kroger Pharmacy, and Publix Pharmacy. Publix Pharmacy offers a free select antibiotics and cholesterol medications program.

Key Toll Roads

I-85 Express Lanes (northeast of Downtown, inside I-285): dynamically priced HOV/toll lanes.

I-75/575 Express Lanes (Northwest Corridor): dynamically priced from I-285 to Canton.

I-285 Top End Express Lanes (between I-75 and I-85): dynamically priced.

SR 400: toll at Abernathy Road in Sandy Springs; connects Buckhead to north suburbs.

Public Transit

MARTA operates heavy rail on four lines (Red, Gold, Blue, Green) and an extensive bus network. Pay with a Breeze Card, available at all rail stations and online. Key connections for new residents: Red/Gold lines serve Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (College Park station), Midtown, and Buckhead. Blue/Green lines serve east/west corridors. For outlying suburbs not served by MARTA rail, Xpress Regional Commuter Service (now operated by the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority) runs express bus routes.

Airport Access

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is served by all major carriers, with Delta Air Lines as the primary hub carrier. MARTA's Red and Gold lines provide direct rail service to the Domestic Terminal. Rideshare pickup is located at the Ride App Center on Level 1 of both domestic and international terminals.

Major Roadways

I-285 (the Perimeter) is the primary ring road around metro Atlanta. I-75 and I-85 merge into the Downtown Connector through the city core. I-20 is the primary east-west corridor through Downtown. SR 400 runs north-south from Buckhead to Cumming and north metro suburbs. New residents will quickly encounter the local shorthand, "ITP" (inside the perimeter) vs. "OTP" (outside the perimeter), which is widely used to describe Atlanta neighborhoods and suburbs.

Homestead Exemption

Georgia homeowners who occupy their property as a primary residence are eligible for a state Homestead Exemption ($2,000 reduction in assessed value for state taxes). Fulton County offers additional county-level exemptions. The City of Atlanta also provides a Basic Homestead Exemption. Applications must be filed with the Fulton County Tax Assessor by April 1 of the tax year. The exemption renews automatically once approved.

Homeowners Insurance

Standard Georgia homeowners policies include windstorm coverage. However, flood insurance is not included in standard policies and must be purchased separately through the NFIP or a private insurer.

Vehicle Insurance

Georgia requires minimum liability coverage of 25/50/25 ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage). Uninsured motorist coverage is required at the same minimum levels. Georgia does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

Address Updates

Key parties to notify after your move: IRS (irs.gov or Form 8822), Social Security Administration (ssa.gov), financial institutions, health insurance provider, voter registration, and employer HR.

Atlanta Police Non-Emergency

(404) 658-6666

Poison Control

1-800-222-1222

State Crisis Line

Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL): 1-800-715-4225 (24/7)

Emergency Alerts—Fulton Countys

Sign up for emergency notifications with Alert Fulton.

Emergency Alerts—City of Atlanta

ATL Ready provides citywide alerts and preparedness resources.

Natural Disaster Info

Winter ice storms are Atlanta's most disruptive recurring hazard. Tornado season is primarily spring; NWS Atlanta issues watches and warnings. Some low-lying areas near the Chattahoochee River basin are prone to flash flooding.

FEMA Flood Map

Check your property address with the FEMA Flood Map.

Top Employers

Major employers are Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, United Parcel Service (UPS), The Coca-Cola Company, Chick-fil-A, Cox Enterprises, Emory University, and Wellstar Health System.

Job Search Tools

LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor—filter by Atlanta for the widest reach. Georgia Works aggregates state-managed and regional listings.

State Job Portal

Georgia Department of Labor manages state job listings, workforce development programs, and unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Benefits

If you're newly unemployed after relocating to Georgia, review eligibility requirements before filing for unemployment benefits. Georgia's maximum weekly benefit and eligibility window differ from higher-wage states.

Professional Networking

Network via the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Technology Association of Georgia, or Technology Village.

Staffing & Temp Agencies

Randstad and Robert Half both maintain significant Atlanta-area presences and are useful options for new residents seeking contract or temp-to-hire roles while building a local network.