Mold Remediation in Forest Park, GA

For renters first

Forest Park runs a Residential Rental Dwelling Unit Inspection and Maintenance Program through its Planning & Community Development department, and the city's Code Enforcement unit sits in the same department. If your landlord hasn't fixed a roof leak, a dripping pipe or a failing window that's feeding mold, that's the office to contact.

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) requires landlords to keep rental premises in repair. Georgia Legal Aid recommends putting repair requests in writing and keeping copies, by hand delivery with a signed copy or by certified mail. Georgia doesn't allow rent withholding. Repair-and-deduct is risky without the landlord's written agreement on the cost; talk to an attorney first. This is general information, not legal advice.

The city

Forest Park is a northern Clayton County city of about 19,900 people (2020 Census), chartered and incorporated in 1908. It began as a railroad wood-and-water stop and today is roughly 9 miles south of downtown Atlanta in a straight line, with Interstate 75, Interstate 285 and US 41 nearby. In 1973 the city annexed what became the former Fort Gillem Army installation.

Where mold gets started

Clayton County was under a state of emergency during the September 2009 floods. On a normal year, the drivers are humidity and leaks. Atlanta's long, sticky summers and mild, wet winters keep crawl spaces damp, AC systems run much of the year, and red clay holds water near foundations. A small leak left alone for a few weeks can soak drywall and insulation well beyond the visible stain.

Permits and rebuild

The City of Forest Park's Planning & Community Development office on Forest Parkway issues building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical and demolition permits. That covers most of what follows a big mold job: new drywall over replaced studs, a repaired drain line, or ductwork that has to be replaced.

Health

The Clayton County Board of Health is the local public health agency, with a district office on Forest Parkway and an environmental health office in Jonesboro. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas. A health professional is the right call for symptoms.

Calling a company

Georgia has no license specific to mold work, so it pays to ask how the company will contain the area and confirm dryness. For rebuild work, check for a Georgia residential or general contractor license on the Secretary of State's GOALS Verify Now page. The number on this page connects you with an independent local company that works in Forest Park.