City Clerk Handbook

City Clerks play a vital role in municipal government. While a city clerk’s job function may vary among the 537 cities in Georgia, it, for the most part, encompasses many of the responsibilities outlined and discussed in this handbook.

Our goal is to provide a reference handbook for common city clerk job duties and responsibilities along with information that helps you answer questions you will often encounter in your day-to-day work.

The handbook covers the basics for most city clerk roles in Georgia and includes links to more detailed information if needed. We’ve written this handbook as a quick reference guide and not as a comprehensive, detailed guide to every single duty, responsibility, and law. As a quick resource, it serves as a central place to find easy-to-understand, relevant information about a particular topic. We’ve also included plenty of sample documents and additional resources.

As a work in progress, this handbook will receive ongoing updates and feature new chapters as needed. Reach out to us with any feedback or if you’d like to see specific information added to the handbook. We want to make sure this handbook best serves you in your role as city clerk.

The handbook is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Municipal officials should always consult with their city attorney first and seek guidance and clarification with any questions or concerns.

The preparation of this handbook is a joint effort of the Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association and the Georgia Municipal Association. Many thanks to those helping with this ongoing project.