A home occupation affidavit must be completed, notarized, and approved by the Zoning Administrator. This form is available at both the Business License Office and the Planning & Zoning Department. Notaries are available on staff.

If you are a renter you will also need:

(1) Privately owned home: a notarized letter from the homeowner, and a copy of your lease agreement.

(2) Apartment complex: a letter from the property manager, on letterhead, along with the lease agreement, will be sufficient.

(3) The letter must state that the homeowner/ property owner is allowing the home based business.

COMMERCIAL locations must contact Building Services at (770) 429-4554 or jnewsome@kennesaw-ga.gov, to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.

Federal: Visit the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.

State: Visit www.georgia.gov. Then click on the "Business Registration" link.

Certain professional practitioners have the option of calculating their occupation tax in another manner. They may elect to pay a flat fee of $400 per registered professional.

Polling Places

To be eligible for office in the City of Kennesaw, a person must be 21 years of age and meet the requirements of a qualified vote in the City of Kennesaw as prescribed by State law and must have been a resident of the City of Kennesaw for 12 months. Elected officials take office the first day in January after the election.

If changes are being made, contact the Building Services Department (at 770-429-4554) for information regarding permits.

A Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Services Department must be obtained for businesses located in a commercial zoning.

Make an appointment with the Cobb County Fire Marshall's Office (at 770-528-8000) to take two copies of the floor plan drawing for approval.

Bring a stamped copy of the floor plan to Building Services Department and pay the $25.00 permit fee. A permit number will be assigned.

Make appointments for on-site inspections by the building inspectors and the fire department.

After approval from fire department and building inspector, a Certificate of Occupancy may be obtained from Building Services.

If business is located in a home, a statement must be signed regarding residency restrictions.

After obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy application may be made for an Occupational Tax Certificate.

If you are a corporation, a copy of your Certificate of Incorporation from the State is required.

State licensed businesses must provide a copy of their State License.

Any type of ownership other that sole proprietorship must provide a federal tax identification number.

Assessed values are established by the Cobb County Tax Assessor’s Office and are currently calculated at 40 percent of the fair market value.

The public utility assessments are supplied to the City by the State Revenue Department.

Taxes on all the above categories are levied in the fall of each year on the assessed valuation of property of the preceding January 1 and are due sixty (60) days from the date of billing.

Ad Valorem taxes on motor vehicles and mobile homes are collected by the Cobb County Tax Commissioner and remitted to the City.

The Tax Division maintains a monthly ledger on these tax payments as they are received.

For more information contact Christy Huiel at chuiel@kennesaw-ga.gov.

City of Kennesaw
Property Tax Division
2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue
Kennesaw, GA 30144

If Christmas is on a Sunday, then observed holidays are Saturday & Monday.
If Christmas is on a Monday, then observed holidays are Monday & Tuesday.
If Christmas is on a Tuesday, then observed holidays are Monday & Tuesday.
If Christmas is on a Wednesday, then observed holidays are Tuesday & Wednesday.
If Christmas is on a Thursday, then observed holidays are Wednesday & Thursday.
If Christmas is on a Friday, then observed holidays are Thursday & Friday.
If Christmas is on a Saturday, then observed holidays are Friday & Saturday.

Due to recent changes in environmental conditions, Cobb County has lifted the countywide ban on open burning starting March 1, 2008 until the statewide burn ban goes back into effect on May 1, 2008.

During this two month period, yard debris (defined as limbs, leaves, and pine straw which fall from trees) may be burned provided all burning activities comply with criteria set forth below in the Official Code of Cobb County, Chapter 54.

A source of emergency water must still be maintained and readily available during permissible burning (i.e. water hose). However, this is for emergencies only: certain outdoor watering restrictions remain in effect as detailed on the link listed below:

Residents should be aware of all current wind, weather, and other ambient environmental conditions prior to initiating any outdoor burning. Current fire danger ratings, drought indices, and other conditions can be obtained at the website for the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Go to the following link for more information. Burning Ban information

• Even and Unnumbered addresses may water Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays

• Odd addresses may water Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays

In compliance with Cobb County’s Drought Response Plan adopted by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, beginning April 1, 2008, citizens who complete the State of Georgia's online water conservation class at www.urbanagcouncil.com will be able to water newly installed landscape for 10 weeks on the odd/even schedule from 4 a.m. - 9 a.m.

For more information on Cobb County's Drought Response Plan, and to download the landscape exemption form please visit the Cobb County Water Efficiency page of this website.

The Cobb County Water System will strictly enforce these restrictions. Warnings are issued for a first offense. Second, and each subsequent time results in escalating fines for each offense up to $500, water service disconnection, as well as prosecution.

Water Restriction Information Line

Cobb County now has a Water Restriction Information and Reporting line. To receive further information or to report a concern about the water ban you may call: (770) 419-6278
24-hours a day/7 days a week to leave a message.

Addresses of reported violations will be added to our patrol schedule.

Thank you for your interest in protecting our water resources.

Thank you for your community support and cooperation as we promote continued wise and conservative water use.

More...

Since undergoing a $2 million renovation in 2004, the Ben Robertson Community Center has hosted a wide array of events including weddings, receptions, family reunions, anniversary parties, club and organizational meetings, and small business meetings. Click here for more information.

1) Internet: Register online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's fast, easy, convenient and free (no online transaction fees). We only accept credit card payments over the Internet.

2) Via Fax: Complete the registration form in the back of the Kennesaw Parks & Recreation Program Guide and fax it to (678) 460-3373. We only accept credit card payments via fax.

3) By Mail: Send your completed registration form to the City of Kennesaw Parks & Recreation Department, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30144. We accept check and credit card payments by mail. Do not send cash.

4) In Person: Drop off your completed registration form and payment at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. Our regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We accept cash, check and credit card payments. Individuals paying with cash are asked to bring exact change.

Activity fees are due at time of registration. Checks should be made payable to the "City of Kennesaw". We accept Visa®, MasterCard® and American Express® credit cards. Click here to view Registration Information.

Since undergoing a $2 million renovation in 2004, the Ben Robertson Community Center has hosted a wide array of events including weddings, receptions, family reunions, anniversary parties, club and organizational meetings, and small business meetings. Click here for more information.

• Health Insurance

EPO Plan
PPO Plan

Medical & Dental are both included in the coverage. We also offer mail-in prescriptions.

• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability
• City Retirement Plan

Additional Benefits:

• 2 weeks Paid vacation
• 8 Paid Sick Days
• 1 Personal day per year
• Flu vaccine
• Hapatitis A & B Vaccines

We also offer participation in:

• Credit Union
• Deferred Compensation
• Additional supplemental insurance policies
• Vision Care Plan
• Wellness Program
• Direct Deposit
• AAA Auto South
• Costco Memberships

b. Mail your application and/or resume to:

City of Kennesaw
Attention: Leean Keanum
Human Resources
2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave.
Kennesaw, GA 30144

c. E-mail your application and/or resume to lkeanum@kennesaw-ga.gov.

a. Fax your application and/or resume to (770) 528-9082.

b. Mail your application and/or resume to:

City of Kennesaw
Attention: Leean Keanum
Human Resources
2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave.
Kennesaw, GA 30144

c. E-mail your application and/or resume to lkeanum@kennesaw-ga.gov.

If your taxes are paid in escrow, please forward your tax statement to your mortgage company and they will pay us. We mail statements to taxpayers and will be glad to send statements to mortgage companies.

It is the homowner's responsibility to ensure we have the correct mortgage company name and mailing address.

We do get requests from mortgage companies for tax amounts on specific parcels and provide them with taxes due at that time. If you need to check to see if your taxes have been paid, please contact the Tax Office at 770-424-8274, ext. 3015, or visit our website.

State Exemptions:
These exemptions are received after application is made with Cobb County.

City Exemptions:
Floating Homestead – Balance of increase in assessed value of home at time homestead exemption granted. There must be an application on file for regular homestead with Cobb County.

Over 65 Exemption – Residents who have homestead exemption with Cobb County and are 65 years of age on January 1 (must provide proof of age with driver’s license or Georgia I.D.). This is the only exemption that must be applied for at the City of Kennesaw.

Click on the following link to download a PDF version of the Over 65 Exemption Form. Over 65 Exemption Form

Fair Market Value of Property (as determined by the Cobb County Assessor’s Office) $100,000. multiplied by 40% (which is what GA Dept of Rev says we are able to tax) equals $40,000 of Assessed Value.

Exemptions are then removed from the assessed value such as the homestead exemption. If you have applied and are eligible to receive this exemption then your taxable amount is $32,000.

The City Tax of 9.50 mils would then be applied to the taxable amount for every $1,000.

$32,000/1000 = $32 X 8.50 = $272.00
OR
$32,000 X .00850 = $272.00

The Bond Tax of 1.5 would be applied in the same manner, however there are some exemptions that do not apply to the Bond Tax such as the homestead exemption.

$40,000/1000 = $40. X 1.5 = $60.00
OR
$40,000 X .0015 = $60.00

The total for the tax bill would be $332.00.