Lost & Found Services in Georgia

Discover how to report or find lost items across major cities in Georgia. We help you connect with local services, transportation hubs, and more.

Most Populated Cities in Georgia

Atlanta

Augusta

Savannah

Columbus

Gainesville

Macon

How Lost & Found Works in Georgia

Georgia's lost property law fits in one powerful sentence: whoever finds your item must take reasonable measures to return it before doing anything else, or they commit theft (OCGA §16-8-6). There is no statewide claim timetable on top of that, so local procedures decide how long your window stays open.

Georgia is also home to the world's busiest airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson's lost & found is its own universe with its own rules. ReportLost is an independent service. A free report creates a public listing; paid options add public-web monitoring, and the $25 team-assisted option also includes relevant local outreach. Agencies and venues set their own filing and holding procedures.

What the Law Says in Georgia

The duty to try (OCGA §16-8-6)

A person who comes into control of property they know is lost or mislaid and appropriates it without first taking reasonable measures to restore it to the owner commits theft. Courts read 'reasonable measures' concretely: checking the venue's lost & found, notifying security, trying to identify the owner. The law pushes every honest find toward an official desk.

No statewide clock, local policies instead

Georgia sets no single holding period for everyday found items: each police department, county and venue defines its own retention and claim procedures, often a few months but never guaranteed. The applicable retention policy depends on which department, venue or business holds the item.

Atlanta's airport is its own circuit

Hartsfield-Jackson processes a phenomenal flow of lost items through its own lost & found operation, separate from Atlanta police, with its own claim procedures and retention windows. Anything lost on a journey through ATL should be reported to the airport circuit and the city circuit at the same time.

Where items end up in Georgia

Found items are held by city police and county sheriff property units under local procedures, and by venue desks: Hartsfield-Jackson's lost & found, MARTA for transit, stadiums, hotels and universities; county animal services handle pets. The city pages below list local contacts. ReportLost is independent; its free listing, six-month automatic monitoring and twelve-month team-assisted option are described on the report form.

Lost something in Georgia?

A free report creates a public listing. The $12 option adds six months of automatic monitoring, a ReportLost certificate, an anonymous case address, and QR stickers. The $25 option adds manual research, direct service contact, report submission, local social sharing, and 12 months of monitoring.

Report my lost item →

Georgia Lost & Found FAQ

How long do Georgia police keep found property?

There is no statewide legal deadline: each department sets its own retention policy, often a few months. Procedures vary by city; confirm the current filing process and claim dates with the relevant department.

Is it finders keepers in Georgia?

No. Under OCGA 16-8-6, keeping a found item without first taking reasonable measures to return it to the owner is theft, with penalties scaling with the item's value.

I lost something at Hartsfield-Jackson or on MARTA, who holds it?

Each runs its own lost & found, separate from police property rooms, with its own procedures. The report form describes ReportLost’s free public listing, six-month automatic monitoring and twelve-month team-assisted option with relevant outreach.

Do I get my item back if someone turned it in?

The agency may ask you to prove ownership with a photo, serial number or identifying detail. Keep one detail private when contacting a finder or agency so it can help confirm ownership.

Is a reward mandatory in Georgia?

No. Offering a reward is your choice, never a legal obligation.

This page provides general information about Georgia law as of publication and is not legal advice. Procedures vary by city and department; verify details with your local authorities. Last reviewed: July 2026.

All Cities We Cover in Georgia

Each city page lists the local lost & found contacts and how to report a loss there.