Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Planning and Quality Growth

Qualified Local Government (QLG) Status With the passage of the Georgia Planning Act of 1989, all of Georgia's 159 counties and 529 municipalities were eligible to become "Qualified Local Governments” (QLG). Each of these local governments must maintain QLG status in order to remain eligible for a range of state assistance programs.

Recertification Schedule Every local government has been given a recertification date by which time their plan update must be submitted, reviewed and approved by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and adopted by the local government in order to maintain their Qualified Local Government (QLG) status. All municipalities in a county share the same full plan update deadline as their county government, thereby facilitating the coordinated planning process. The recertification schedule is available in PDF format at:

Recertification Schedule by County by County

Service Delivery Strategy The Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) law promotes the delivery of local government services in the most efficient, effective and responsive manner avoiding overlapping and unnecessary competition and duplication of service delivery. The Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) law promotes the delivery of local government services in the most efficient, effective and responsive manner avoiding overlapping and unnecessary competition and duplication of service delivery. Local governments that are not in compliance with the SDS law or projects which are inconsistent with a Strategy will be ineligible for state-administered financial assistance, grants, loans or permits. Local governments that are not in compliance with the SDS law or projects which are inconsistent with a Strategy will be ineligible for state-administered financial assistance, grants, loans or permits. Information about the service delivery strategy law and how to revise a strategy is available at: Information about the service delivery strategy law and how to revise a strategy is available at:

Ineligible Governments List The governments included on page 1 of these listings are not in compliance with DCA minimum standards under the Georgia Planning Act, the Georgia Solid Waste Management Act or the Service Delivery Strategy law. The local governments listed are ineligible for selected state assistance programs and/or solid waste permits. The ineligible governments list is located at

Ineligible Governments List

More Information Dan Basso, Planning Section Manager Office of Planning and Quality Growth