§ 18-98. Service of complaints or orders upon parties in interest and owners of unfit buildings or structures.

(a)

Complaints issued by a public officer pursuant to this section shall be served in the following manner. A copy of the complaint and summons shall be conspicuously posted on the subject dwelling, building, structure or property within three business days of filing of the complaint and at least 14 days prior to the date of the hearing. A copy of the complaint and summons shall also be served in one of the following ways:

(1)

At least 14 days prior to the hearing, the public officer shall send the complaint and summons via certified mail, return receipt requested, or statutory overnight delivery to all interested parties whose identity and address are reasonably ascertainable. For any owner or party in interest whose mailing address is unknown, a notice stating the date, time, and place of hearing shall be published in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements appear in the city once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the hearing.

(2)

Copies of the petition shall also be mailed by first-class mail to the property address to the attention of the occupants of the property, if any.

(b)

A notice of lis pendens shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county superior court at the time of filing the complaint. Such notice shall have the same force and affect as other lis pendens notices provided by law.

(c)

Orders and other filings made subsequent to service of the initial complaint shall be served in the manner provided in this section on the owner and any party in interest who answers the complaint or appears at the hearing. Any party who fails to answer or appear at the hearing shall be deemed to have waived all further notice in the proceeding.

(Amend. of 6-12-2007, § 1)

State law reference

Similar provisions, O.C.G.A. § 41-2-12.