Georgia laws by category

Consumer fireworks are legal to buy and use statewide in Georgia (legal since July 1, 2015), but only within set hours. Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

No permit is needed. Since April 12, 2022, Georgia allows permitless carry for any "lawful weapons carrier": generally anyone 21 or older who is not legally barred from having a firearm, or 18 or older with qualifying military service. Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

Georgia is not a control state: beer and wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores, but distilled spirits are sold only in licensed package stores (liquor stores). Retail is privately operated.

Radar detectors are legal in passenger vehicles — Georgia has no state ban on them.

In Georgia, you need a freshwater fishing license from age 16 (residents age 16 to 64 must have one to fish fresh and salt waters; residents 65+ buy a discounted senior license; residents and nonresidents 15 and under are exempt). Licenses are issued by the GA Dept. of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Div. (WRD).

4% state sales tax; counties layer local option sales taxes on top, so the combined rate varies by county — the DOR publishes the quarterly General Rate Chart. The local rate applied is generally the county where the buyer receives the goods; the City of Atlanta adds a 1% municipal option tax (MOST).

Recreational cannabis is illegal in Georgia, which has a medical cannabis program only (formerly known as "low-THC oil"). Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

In Georgia, anyone hunting deer or bears, by any method including archery, and anyone accompanying them must wear fluorescent orange or pink during firearms and primitive-weapons deer or bear seasons. Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

Georgia has no legal sports betting, retail or online. 2026 legalization bills failed.

Georgia requires all persons born on or after Jan 1, 1998 to complete a DNR-approved boat education course before operating any motorized vessel on state waters.

Georgia's weapon-carry law defines a regulated knife as a blade greater than 12 inches, so switchblades and automatic knives (and any knife 12 inches or less) are legal to own and carry (O.C.G.A. 16-11-125.1).

Georgia has no drone-specific privacy statute; its general surveillance felony (OCGA 16-11-62) bars using any device to record activities in a private place out of public view.