How to Complete the DeKalb County Water Exemption Form: Qualify, Notarize, Submit

To complete the DeKalb County water exemption form, you’ll need proof you’re 65 or older, income documentation for everyone in your household, your water account number, and a notary to witness the affidavit on the application itself. Once the packet is assembled, you submit it to the Department of Watershed Management at 4572 Memorial Drive, Suite 200, Decatur, GA 30032, either in person or by mail.1DeKalb County, GA. Watershed Management

Confirm You Qualify Before You Start

The senior water and sewer exemption is for homeowners who meet all of these conditions:

  • You are at least 65 years old when you apply.
  • You own the home and live in it as your primary residence. Renters don’t qualify.
  • Your total household income falls within the county’s low-income threshold, counting wages, pensions, Social Security, and investment income for everyone in the home.
  • The water and sewer account is in your name.

The income ceiling changes periodically, so call DeKalb Watershed Management’s billing line at 404-378-4475 and confirm the current figure before you fill anything out. If you’re under 65 but permanently disabled, call the same number to ask whether disability qualifies you; the county’s property tax program treats disability as a separate category, but the water program’s position isn’t spelled out in public materials.2DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office. Homestead and Property Tax Exemptions

Documents to Gather First

A missing attachment is the most common reason applications stall. Pull all of this together before you open the form:

  • Proof of age: a valid Georgia driver’s license, state ID, or birth certificate showing you’re 65 or older.2DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office. Homestead and Property Tax Exemptions
  • Income documentation: last year’s federal and state tax returns plus any Social Security Form 1099s, for every adult in the home.2DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office. Homestead and Property Tax Exemptions
  • Your water account number, taken from a recent DeKalb water bill.
  • Proof of ownership, such as your deed or most recent tax assessment notice. The county pulls property records on its own, but having the document in hand helps if anything is unclear.

Filling Out the Form

You can download the exemption form from the Department of Watershed Management website or pick up a paper copy at the Memorial Drive office.1DeKalb County, GA. Watershed Management The form is short, but two sections cause most of the problems.

In the personal information section, write your name exactly as it appears on the water account. Any mismatch between the name on file and the name you write slows processing. Enter your service address and the water account number from your bill.

In the household income section, list every person living in the home and the income each one receives. The county checks what you write against the tax returns and Social Security statements you attach. Numbers that don’t match the documents get the application flagged or denied, so take the figures straight from the paperwork rather than estimating.

Getting the Affidavit Notarized

The form ends with a sworn affidavit confirming that your answers are truthful. You have to sign it in front of a notary public. Don’t sign it in advance; the notary must witness the signature for it to count.

Georgia caps notary fees at $2.00 per notarial act.3Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-11 – Fees of Notaries Banks, UPS stores, and many county offices have notaries on hand, and some banks notarize for free if you have an account there. Bring a photo ID; the notary needs it to confirm who you are.

Submitting the Packet

Two options:

  • In person at the Department of Watershed Management, 4572 Memorial Drive, Suite 200, Decatur, GA 30032. Dropping it off lets you confirm nothing is missing before you leave.1DeKalb County, GA. Watershed Management
  • By mail to the same address. Use certified mail or request delivery confirmation so you can prove the packet arrived.

Before you try to upload anything electronically, call 404-378-4475 to ask whether online submission is accepted. Notarized documents with original signatures often have to be delivered physically even when an online portal exists.

What to Expect After You Submit

The department reviews your income documents, verifies ownership, and confirms your age. Processing generally takes several weeks. Keep paying your full bill while you wait; stopping payment can trigger late fees or a service shutoff that has nothing to do with the exemption decision.

Once approved, the reduced rate takes effect on the next billing cycle after the approval date, and the lower amount shows up on the bill itself. If a full cycle passes after you submitted and the bill still shows the standard rate, call the department to check your status.

Keeping the Exemption Active

You don’t reapply every year. The exemption stays in place as long as you continue to own the property and live there.2DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office. Homestead and Property Tax Exemptions A few changes end it, and you’re expected to notify the department when they happen:

  • Selling the home, moving out, or renting it to someone else.
  • Household income rising above the county’s threshold in a later year.
  • Transferring the water account into another person’s name.

If the county later finds you kept the reduced rate after becoming ineligible, it can bill you retroactively for the difference.

If You Don’t Qualify for the Senior Exemption

DeKalb has other options for residents who need help with water and sewer costs. The DeKalb Water Rate Assistance Program, run through the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, helps eligible low-income households pay their bills.4DeKalb County, GA. DeKalb County Strengthens Safety Net and Builds Continuum of Care If you’ve lost income or a job, call a DeKalb Customer Care Representative at 404-378-4475 to ask about payment arrangements.