Getting oriented · Hall County
For New Residents
The first month in Gainesville is mostly administrative: water and sewer run through the city, electricity is Georgia Power or Jackson EMC depending on the meter, the main library branch sits downtown, and the Hall County courthouse is a block away because Gainesville is the county seat.
This page is the orientation file: who does what, what to set up first, and the handful of places new residents actually need in the first month. Everything here is verified by name and location.
Set up first
Water, sewer, and the power provider
Water and sewer run through the City of Gainesville Department of Water Resources, which serves Gainesville and most of Hall County. Apply at the customer service drive-through and walk-up window at 757 Queen City Parkway or online, and pay the deposit before service connects.
For electricity, two providers serve the city: Georgia Power and Jackson EMC. The meter tells the story, a Georgia Power meter says Southern Company and a Jackson EMC meter says Jackson EMC, so check the box before you sign up. Natural gas is deregulated, so households choose between the local marketers.
Register
Voter registration and the library card
Register to vote with the Hall County election office, which runs the county's elections and the city's municipal elections. The county assessor and the state registration system are the sources to confirm your precinct and district.
The other registration that matters: a library card. The Hall County Library System's main branch sits at 127 Main Street NW downtown, and cards are free for residents with proof of address. One card works across the whole county system.
First month
The places new residents actually use
Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville
743 Spring St NE · the flagship hospital
The region's flagship hospital with the emergency department, right in the city. Good to know where it is before you need it.
The downtown square
the courthouse block
The square holds the courthouse, the coffee bars, the restaurants, and the shops, with the library a few blocks away. The fastest way to feel like a local.
The grocery runs
Publix, Kroger, Walmart, ALDI
Publix at The Village and on Dawsonville Highway, Kroger Marketplace, a Walmart Supercenter, and an ALDI cover the weekly load across the city.
Lake Lanier Olympic Park
3105 Clarks Bridge Rd · the lake door
The lake park with the beach and the walking paths, the weekend answer that makes the lake a five-minute drive instead of a destination.
Who runs what
The two-layer answer, in one breath
The city runs the utilities, the police, the parks, and the library; the county runs the courthouse, the elections, and the county government, and the schools follow the boundary of the address. Ask the city for a water bill, a park, or a police matter; ask the county for a ballot, a tax question, or the courthouse. Both have offices and both publish their contact details openly.
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.