Mold Remediation in Austell, GA

A rail town on Sweetwater Creek

Austell incorporated in 1885 and grew around a railway depot where two Norfolk Southern lines meet. Most of the city is in Cobb County, with a small southern part in Douglas County. It had about 7,700 residents at the 2020 Census and lies roughly 15 miles from downtown Atlanta. The town sits on level terrain along Sweetwater Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee, and Olley Creek also has a National Weather Service gauge listed at Austell.

What happened in September 2009

Austell was among the hardest-hit places in the September 2009 floods, with five major streams overflowing. The National Weather Service gauge on Sweetwater Creek at Austell crested at 30.80 feet against a 10-foot flood stage, and Olley Creek crested at 27.40 feet against a 12-foot flood stage. NWS says the Sweetwater Creek basin rose to the 500-year flood level.

That history is a reminder of what EPA's post-flood guidance is for:

1. If a home flooded and couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours, assume mold growth.
2. Remove soaked carpet, padding, drywall and insulation rather than trying to save them.
3. Wear at least an N-95 respirator, gloves and goggles; keep children out of cleanup.
4. People with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

Most mold calls are smaller: an AC drain that backs up, a slow leak under a sink, or a crawl space that stays damp all summer. The same drying rule applies.

City permits

In Austell, builders and owners apply for all building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits through the Community Affairs Department at 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road, which has a Building Permit and Inspection Coordinator. Rebuilding after mold removal may need one.

Code enforcement: sign your complaint

The City of Austell Code Enforcement Division enforces ordinances on health, safety and property nuisances, along with the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. Complaints must be signed; anonymous complaints are not acted on. File online or on the written formal complaint form. Cobb and Douglas Public Health says it has no authority over mold in private homes or rentals. Tenants should give the landlord written notice first, as Georgia Legal Aid advises. This is general information, not legal advice.

Hiring

Georgia has no state mold license or certification. If the job includes rebuilding, ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license and check it on GOALS Verify Now. Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports a typical remediation at $1,249 to $4,363.