§ 3-12-2 - Establishment of districts; articles of establishment; contents; filing; fees
O.C.G.A. 3-12-2 (2010)
3-12-2. Establishment of districts; articles of establishment; contents; filing; fees
(a) The exclusive and uniform method for the establishment of a residential community development district shall be by the filing of the articles of establishment of a community development district with the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the district is to be located or, if located in more than one county, of each of the counties in which the district is located.
(b) The articles of establishment of a residential community development district shall contain the following:
(1) The written consent to the establishment of the district by the owner or owners of 80 percent of the real property to be included in the district, or documentation demonstrating that the petitioner has control of 80 percent of the real property to be included in the district by deed, trust agreement, contract, or option;
(2) A metes and bounds description of the external boundaries of the district, with a specific metes and bounds description of any real property within the boundaries of the district which is to be excluded from the district;
(3) A schematic layout of the proposed district with a map of the proposed and existing residential subdivisions, streets, and roads in the district and the buildings and grounds to be used in common by members of the club operating in the district, together with a commitment that the owner or owners of the real property located within the district will bear the costs of the construction of such proposed streets and roads and will maintain the same at no expense to the county;
(4) The proposed name of the district and the location and the mailing address of the principal office of the district; and
(5) A list of at least three persons designated to be the initial members of the board of control of the district who shall serve in that capacity until replaced by elected members; provided, that the members of the board of control shall be elected by the owners of the real estate within the district who may vote in person or by proxy in writing at an annual meeting of the district which date shall be specified in the petition. Each landowner within the district shall be entitled to cast one vote per one acre of land owned and located within the district for each person to be elected. A landowner whose parcel of land measures less than one acre shall be entitled to one vote with respect thereto. The selected number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the board of control for a period of one year, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
(c) The articles of establishment and two copies thereof shall be delivered to the clerk of the superior court who shall, upon the payment of the fees prescribed in this Code section:
(1) Endorse on the articles and on each of such copies the word "Filed" and the hour, day, month, and year of the filing thereof;
(2) File the articles in his or her office and certify the two copies thereof; and
(3) Issue a certificate of establishment to which he or she shall affix one certified copy of the articles of establishment and return such certificate with a certified copy of the articles of establishment affixed thereto to the board of control of the district.
(d) Upon the filing of the articles of establishment of the community development district with the clerk of the superior court, the district's existence shall begin.
(e) In lieu of all other charges and fees, the clerk of the superior court shall charge and collect a fee for filing the articles of establishment and issuing a certificate of establishment not to exceed $100.00 for the county and $35.00 for the clerk of the superior court.