Local Option - Special Improvement Districts

Summary

Note: In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activities subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing and a comprehensive list of all PACE programs across the country.

Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing effectively allows property owners to borrow money to pay for energy improvements. The amount borrowed is typically repaid via a special assessment on the property over a period of years. Georgia has authorized certain local governments to establish such programs, as described below. (Not all local governments in Georgia offer PACE financing; contact your local government to find out if it has established a PACE financing program.)

Georgia has authorized the expansion of "business improvement districts" to allow county, city, or town development authorities to provide financing for the installation of renewable energy systems, energy efficiency or conservation improvements, and water efficiency or conservation improvements to residential, commercial, industrial or other qualifying property.