Is the Georgia Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers may pay a fee to access the list for compliance scrubbing. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Georgia DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Georgia state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Telemarketing text messages are restricted under the TCPA whether or not your number is on the DNC list. Registration on the DNC list adds an additional layer of liability for any telemarketer who texts you.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Georgia number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Georgia state penalty: $2,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In Georgia you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Georgia state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Georgia

Georgia Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: Does Georgia have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Georgia maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC); enforcement by Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Attorney General administers it. Telemarketers calling into Georgia must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

Q: How do I register my phone number on the Georgia Do Not Call list?

Register at https://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-topics/do-not-call-law. Registration is administered by Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC); enforcement by Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Attorney General and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2023

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$2,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Georgia Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Georgia runs its own DNC registry

Georgia maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Georgia must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Georgia State Registry

Georgia No Call List (merged with federal NDNC)

Administered by Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC); enforcement by Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Attorney General

https://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-topics/do-not-call-law →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Restricted under TCPA

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Georgia state list — details

Scrub frequencyMust scrub against the federal NDNC Registry at least every 31 days. Since January 1, 2005, telemarketers must update their scrub every 31 days. Georgia's list was merged into the federal registry.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteO.C.G.A. § 46-5-27

Georgia's state No Call List was merged into the federal National DNC Registry after the federal registry was established in 2003. Consumer registration through donotcall.gov automatically provides protection under both Georgia and federal law. The Georgia PSC originally maintained the list under legislation passed in 1998. The Georgia Telemarketing Registration Act requires registration and payment of a fee. Automated Dialing and Announcement Device (ADAD) operators must obtain a permit from the Georgia PSC. State penalties: up to $5,000 per violation (additional penalties for calls to elderly/disabled). Federal penalties: up to $50,120 per violation. Caller ID blocking is illegal. Permitted hours: 8am-9pm. No state telemarketer registration fee requirement per multiple sources.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in Georgia. Georgia has a private right of action — you can recover $2,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Georgia DNC enforcement actions

Enforcement framework update — GA SB 73 effective

telecommunications

Jul 2024

$1,000 penalty

Georgia SB 73 fundamentally changed telemarketing enforcement landscape effective July 1, 2024. Removed "knowing" requirement (ignorance no longer a defense), eliminated $1,000 damages cap for class actions, added vicarious liability for vendor telemarketing, and explicitly allowed class action recovery with attorneys' fees. $1K per violation from AG office. Private plaintiffs now have uncapped statutory damages. Georgia went from moderate to high-risk state overnight.

Source →

Michael D. Lansky LLC d/b/a Avid Telecom

telecommunications

May 2023

Georgia joined the 49-state Avid Telecom lawsuit. Between Dec 2018 and Jan 2023, Avid transmitted 24.5 billion calls. Georgia participation significant because SB 73 (effective July 2024) later removed the "knowing" requirement for violations and eliminated the damages cap for private plaintiffs. Companies operating in GA now face uncapped liability even without proof of willfulness.

Source →

Evergreen Publishing Group LLC / Readers Services Inc. / Chris Sidhilall

home_services

Mar 2022

$150,000 settlement

Settlement for deceptive telemarketing selling magazine subscriptions to older and disabled adults. $15K restitution + $135K to AG office. Failure to comply during 5-year monitoring triggers additional $617K. GA AG Carr specifically targeted elder exploitation angle — telemarketing companies that prey on vulnerable populations face enhanced scrutiny and penalties in Georgia.

Source →

Calling a registered Georgia number costs telemarketers: $2,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Georgia residents. If you operate outbound calls into Georgia, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Georgia DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK DNC Registry in OhioOH

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →