What County Is Atlanta In? A Local Guide to Atlanta’s Counties and Borders

If you’re new to the area, visiting, or filling out forms, you might find yourself wondering: “What county is Atlanta in?” The short answer is:

But in everyday Atlanta life, it’s a little more complicated than that. Atlanta is the center of a large, multi-county metro area, and many people say “Atlanta” when they’re actually talking about surrounding cities and suburbs.

This guide walks through which county Atlanta is in, how the city overlaps multiple counties, and what that means for addresses, schools, taxes, services, and moving decisions.

Atlanta’s Main Counties: Fulton and DeKalb

The primary county: Fulton County

Atlanta is primarily in Fulton County.

Most of the neighborhoods people think of when they say “Atlanta” are in Fulton County, including:

• Downtown Atlanta
• Midtown
• Westside / West Midtown
• Buckhead
• Old Fourth Ward
• West End & SW Atlanta
• Upper Westside
• Cascade Heights
• Grant Park (part)

Key county-level services for these areas are handled by Fulton County Government, such as:

• Property taxes for homes inside the Fulton portion of Atlanta
• Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and Fulton County Jail
• Fulton County courts (including traffic and state courts)
• Fulton County public health and social services

Main government hub:

• Fulton County Government Center
  141 Pryor St SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone (main switchboard): typically listed on the county’s main site or directories

If your address is in Atlanta, GA 30303, 30308, 30309, 30318, or many of the intown ZIP codes, there’s a strong chance you’re in Fulton County—but it’s always good to verify, since ZIP codes can sometimes cross county lines.

The secondary county: DeKalb County

A significant part of southeast and east Atlanta is actually in DeKalb County, not Fulton. These areas are still inside the official City of Atlanta limits, but county services are different.

Atlanta neighborhoods that commonly fall in DeKalb County include:

• Parts of East Atlanta
• Kirkwood
• Edgewood
• Parts of Grant Park / Ormewood area
• Candler Park (city-adjacent; some addresses are City of Atlanta, some are not)
• Some neighborhoods near Moreland Ave and Bouldercrest Rd

Key DeKalb services for these residents include:

• DeKalb County property taxes
• DeKalb County Police / Sheriff (alongside City of Atlanta Police, depending on jurisdiction)
• DeKalb County courts
• DeKalb County sanitation (if not handled by the city at your address)
• DeKalb County School District (if you are not within Atlanta Public Schools boundaries)

Main government hub:

• DeKalb County Government / Maloof Administrative Building
  1300 Commerce Dr
  Decatur, GA 30030

If your address says Atlanta, GA but your county line falls in DeKalb, you are still a City of Atlanta resident but a DeKalb County taxpayer.

Quick Reference: Where Is Atlanta Located by County?

Here’s a simple overview of how the City of Atlanta relates to local counties:

Use this table as a starting point. For anything official—like filing taxes or registering to vote—always confirm your exact county using your home address.

Why Does Atlanta Span More Than One County?

Atlanta’s city limits have changed over time. As the city grew eastward, it expanded past the Fulton County line into DeKalb County. Today:

• The city boundary is not the same as the county boundary
• A single city can sit in multiple counties
• Residents can be City of Atlanta + Fulton County, or City of Atlanta + DeKalb County

This is fairly common in large metro areas. For you, it mostly matters for:

• Who you pay county property taxes to
• Which county court or sheriff’s office you deal with
• Which county services (like health or elections) you use

“I Live in Atlanta” vs. “My Address Says Atlanta”

In the metro area, people often say “Atlanta” when they actually mean:

• A city inside Fulton County that’s not Atlanta, like Sandy Springs or College Park
• A city in another county, like Marietta (Cobb County) or Decatur (DeKalb County)
• Unincorporated county areas with an “Atlanta” mailing address

USPS city name vs. actual city limits

The postal city listed by the U.S. Postal Service (the “Atlanta, GA” on your mail) does not always match the legal city or county.

You might see:

• Atlanta, GA as your mailing city
• But actually live in Cobb County (for example, parts of Vinings)
• Or live in unincorporated South Fulton that still uses “Atlanta” in the mailing address

For everyday deliveries, the postal city works fine. For:

• Voting registration
• Homestead exemption
• Property tax billing
• School district assignment

you need to know your legal city and county, not just what’s on your mail.

How to Check What County Your Atlanta Address Is In

If you’re not sure whether your Atlanta address is in Fulton or DeKalb, or another nearby county, you can:

1. Look at your property tax bill or mortgage escrow statement

   • It should state clearly: “Fulton County” or “DeKalb County” property tax.

2. Check your voter registration information

   • It will list your county of registration and local districts.

3. Use county property search tools (online)

   • Fulton County Board of Assessors and DeKalb County Tax Assessor both offer searchable databases where you enter your address to see the county and jurisdiction.

4. Call the county tax office or elections office
   Provide your full street address and ZIP code; staff can usually confirm your county in a few minutes.

Key contacts (phone numbers may change, but these offices are stable):

• Fulton County Tax Commissioner (Atlanta area offices)
  Central location: 141 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

• DeKalb County Tax Commissioner
  Main office: 4380 Memorial Dr, Decatur, GA 30032

If you’re renting and don’t see property tax bills, your leasing office or apartment management can often tell you which county they pay taxes to.

County vs. City: Who Handles What in Atlanta?

Understanding the difference between City of Atlanta and county responsibilities helps you know who to contact.

The City of Atlanta typically handles:

• Police services within city limits (Atlanta Police Department)
• Fire and emergency services (Atlanta Fire Rescue)
• Water and sewer (Department of Watershed Management)
• City trash and recycling in many areas
• Zoning, permits, and business licenses inside city borders
• City parks and recreation (like Piedmont Park, Grant Park)
• Atlanta Public Schools (APS) within its boundaries

City Hall:

• Atlanta City Hall
  55 Trinity Ave SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

Fulton or DeKalb County typically handle:

• County jails and sheriff’s offices
• Superior and State courts
• Probate matters (wills, estates)
• County public health departments
• County-level property taxes
• Elections administration for county, state, and federal offices
• Some social services and public assistance

So you might:

• Call Atlanta Police for a local issue on your street
• Pay Fulton or DeKalb County when your annual property tax bill is due
• Deal with Fulton or DeKalb courts if you have a county-level legal matter

How Your County Affects Everyday Life in Atlanta

1. Property taxes and homestead exemptions

Your county determines:

• Which property tax rate applies to your home
• Which homestead exemptions you can apply for, if the home is your primary residence
• How much you pay to support county services like courts and libraries

City of Atlanta homeowners inside Fulton County claim exemptions through Fulton County.
City of Atlanta homeowners inside DeKalb County claim exemptions through DeKalb County.

If you move within Atlanta—from the Fulton side to the DeKalb side—you may need to re-file exemptions with the new county.

2. Schools

Inside the City of Atlanta, many neighborhoods are served by Atlanta Public Schools (APS), but some county-specific areas or border neighborhoods may fall in:

• DeKalb County School District
• Fulton County Schools

When you’re house hunting or moving:

• Don’t rely only on the “Atlanta” city label
• Confirm the school district directly with the district’s zoning or school assignment tools

3. Voting and elected officials

Your county determines:

• Which county commissioners represent you
• Which judicial and sheriff races you vote in
• Where your county early voting sites and election offices are located

Even if two neighbors both say “I live in Atlanta,” they might vote in different counties for certain races, based on the county line.

Common Metro Confusion: “Atlanta” in Cobb, Clayton, and Beyond

Many locations around the metro have:

• Atlanta, GA as their mailing city
• But are legally in another city or in unincorporated county areas

Examples:

• Parts of Cobb County near Vinings and Cumberland use Atlanta mailing addresses
• Areas in Clayton County and South Fulton also use Atlanta in the postal address
• Some DeKalb County neighborhoods outside the City of Atlanta still use “Atlanta” for mail

In these cases, someone may say they live in “Atlanta,” but:

• They are not inside City of Atlanta limits
• Their county could be Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, or Fulton
• City services like Atlanta Police or Atlanta Watershed do not apply to them

For official questions—such as business licenses, zoning permits, or local taxes—always verify:

1. Actual city: City of Atlanta vs another city vs unincorporated
2. County: Fulton vs DeKalb vs Cobb vs Clayton, etc.

Key Takeaways for Anyone in or Moving to Atlanta

• Is Atlanta in Fulton County?
  Yes. Most of the City of Atlanta is in Fulton County.

• Is Atlanta in DeKalb County?
  Yes. A significant portion of east and southeast Atlanta lies in DeKalb County.

• Can an address say “Atlanta, GA” but not be in the City of Atlanta?
  Yes. Many suburban and unincorporated areas use an Atlanta mailing address but are not under City of Atlanta government.

• Why does county matter?
  Your county affects taxes, schools, courts, sheriff’s jurisdiction, voting, and certain public services.

• How do I know my county for sure?
  Check your property tax bill, voter registration, or contact the county tax or elections office with your full address.

Knowing which county your Atlanta address is in helps you navigate local services, fill out forms correctly, and understand how your neighborhood fits into the larger Atlanta metro area.