Fulton · DeKalb · City services
Atlanta Government
Atlanta runs as a strong-mayor city: a directly elected mayor, a 15-member city council, and a separately elected board of education. County government splits by the address side.
Council meetings, the budget calendar, and the zoning process all run through the city's official channels.
The structure
A strong-mayor city
The mayor is elected citywide and appoints the department heads. The council passes the budget and the ordinances, and the school board governs Atlanta Public Schools separately.
County services
Which county, by street
Court, jail, the sheriff, and county elections run through whichever county your address sits in. The city and county lines are not the same line.
An editorial guide, not a listings site. Updated September 13, 2026. Real-estate guidance on this page is provided by Rob Dietrich, REALTOR® with eXp Realty, LLC.