Mold Remediation in Ellenwood, GA

One community, four counties

Ellenwood is an unincorporated suburb southeast of Atlanta, about 11 miles from downtown along Interstate 675. It was first settled around 1830 and takes its name from the Ellenwood Plantation. The community stretches across parts of Clayton, DeKalb, Henry and Rockdale counties, with State Route 42 and Southpark Boulevard among the main roads and the National Archives at Atlanta federal records center nearby. Because there's no city hall, county offices handle permits and code enforcement, and which county depends on your address.

DeKalb County contacts

• Permits: DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability, Permits, Plan Review and Inspections Division, 178 Sams Street, Decatur; 404-371-2155, option 3; [email protected]. It issues permits for residential renovations and commercial alterations in unincorporated DeKalb. Ellenwood addresses in Clayton, Henry or Rockdale go to that county instead.
• Code complaints: DeKalb County Code Compliance Administration, 180 Sams Street, Suite B0100, Decatur; 404-687-3700; [email protected]; or the online Submit a Code Violation portal.
• Apartment registration: Owners of multifamily rentals in unincorporated DeKalb must submit an apartment complex registration certificate based on a county-authorized third-party inspection of interior code compliance.

What the health department can and can't do

DeKalb Public Health says its Environmental Health Division can address indoor air quality issues, including mold, only for permitted facilities such as restaurants and hotels. For homes, it provides information to help residents identify problems. That leaves the landlord and county code compliance as the routes for renters. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) requires landlords to keep the premises in repair; give notice in writing and keep copies, as Georgia Legal Aid advises. Georgia does not allow rent withholding. This is general information, not legal advice.

Where mold starts in Ellenwood homes

Ellenwood shares the metro's hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters. Red clay drains slowly, so poor grading or short downspouts send water toward foundations and into crawl spaces. Inside, attic air handlers, water heaters and bathroom plumbing are the usual suspects. EPA says a patch under about 10 square feet can usually be cleaned by the homeowner once the water is stopped; bigger areas or anything that stayed wet for days should go to a company.

Price and hiring

Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports most remediation jobs at $1,249 to $4,363 and crawl space work at $587 to $2,348. Georgia has no state mold license or certification. For jobs that include rebuild work, check the company's Georgia residential or general contractor license on GOALS Verify Now, and ask which county permit it will pull.