Northwest Metro Atlanta / Cherokee County Landlord Guide 2026 Georgia O.C.G.A. §44-7-19 (1984): The Strongest Rent-Control Preemption in the United States — Three Counties, Three Courthouses; Acworth County-Split Trap; KSU Georgia’s Largest University; Lake Allatoona Federal Shoreline; Cartersville Dual School Districts

Georgia O.C.G.A. §44-7-19: the most absolute rent-control preemption in the United States

Georgia’s rent-control preemption is categorically different from every other state’s approach, and understanding why requires a brief comparison with the states that landlords often cite as “also no rent control.”

Colorado had a statewide preemption statute (C.R.S. §38-12-301) from 1994 until April 2021, when Governor Jared Polis signed HB 21-1117, repealing it and restoring municipal authority to enact rent control. As of 2026, no Colorado city has enacted an ordinance — but the authority exists, and Greeley, Fort Collins, or Aurora could act with a single city council vote. Georgia’s §44-7-19 has no such vulnerability.

Texas does not have a specific rent-control preemption statute but has long relied on a combination of constitutional property-rights doctrine and legislative inaction to prevent local rent ordinances. This is a weaker, structurally different basis than Georgia’s explicit prohibition.

Florida preempts rent control under §125.0103 (counties) and §166.043 (municipalities), but these statutes contain a narrow emergency exception (housing emergencies declared by the federal government) that was invoked by some Florida jurisdictions in 2022. Georgia’s §44-7-19 contains no such exception.

Georgia’s §44-7-19 reads in its entirety: “No county or municipality shall regulate in any way the amount of rent to be charged for any dwelling unit.” Seven words — “in any way” — make this the most expansive language of any preemption statute in the country. It bars not merely direct rent caps but any regulatory mechanism that has the effect of limiting rent amounts: rent stabilization formulas, rent review boards, mediation requirements tied to rent increases, or anti-displacement ordinances that operate through rent limitations. The statute was enacted in 1984, has survived every subsequent legislative session, and carries the full backing of Georgia’s real estate and landlord associations.

The practical implication for landlords across all five cities in this guide: no rent increase limit, no required notice of the amount of increase, no formula, no government approval, and no sunset. Georgia landlords set market rents at lease renewal. The only constraint is what the market will bear.

Georgia rent increase notice requirements

While Georgia imposes no cap on rent increases, landlords must provide adequate advance notice before a rent change takes effect. Georgia does not have a statewide statute specifying a minimum notice period for mid-lease rent increases (which are governed by the lease terms), but for month-to-month tenancies the general Georgia landlord-tenant law requires reasonable notice of material changes to the tenancy — in practice, 30 days advance written notice is the standard and is widely recognized by Georgia magistrate courts as the minimum for month-to-month tenants. For fixed-term leases, the rent cannot be changed mid-term without the tenant’s consent; increases take effect only at renewal.

Three counties, three courthouses: the courthouse geography of Northwest Metro Atlanta

Portfolio landlords managing properties across Kennesaw, Woodstock, Canton, Acworth, and Cartersville are effectively operating in three distinct judicial jurisdictions simultaneously. Each county has its own Magistrate Court, its own filing procedures, its own local rules, and its own Sheriff’s office for process service and Writ execution. A portfolio that straddles even two of these counties requires maintaining separate courthouse relationships.

The three courthouses

Georgia dispossessory process: no pre-filing notice required

One of Georgia’s most landlord-favorable procedural rules is that O.C.G.A. §44-7-50 imposes no mandatory pre-filing notice period. Unlike Colorado (10-day demand notice required before FED filing under HB 21-1121), Oregon (72-hour pay-or-quit required), or California (3-day notice), Georgia landlords may file a dispossessory affidavit the day rent is due and unpaid. The statute simply requires that the landlord demand possession of the premises — the demand can be made verbally or in writing, and the landlord is not required to wait any specified period after the demand before filing.

Standard practice — followed by most Atlanta-area landlords and their attorneys — is to send a written 3–7 day demand letter before filing, as this documents the demand date and gives the tenant a brief opportunity to cure. But this is market practice, not legal requirement.

After filing, the tenant has 7 days to file a written answer (O.C.G.A. §44-7-51). If no answer is filed within 7 days of service, the landlord may immediately seek a default judgment, which can be granted without a hearing. An uncontested default dispossessory in any of the three counties can be completed in as little as 2–3 weeks from filing.

The Acworth county-split trap: the most dangerous filing error in this corridor

Among the five cities in this guide, Acworth presents the highest risk of procedural error for landlords. Acworth’s incorporated city limits span the Cobb–Cherokee county line, meaning a property with a Cobb County parcel number and a property with a Cherokee County parcel number can both carry an Acworth, GA mailing address.

The risk: filing a dispossessory in Cobb County Magistrate Court for a Cherokee County parcel (or vice versa) results in automatic dismissal of the case for lack of jurisdiction. The landlord must re-file in the correct county court, pay a new filing fee, re-serve the tenant, and restart the entire dispossessory timeline. This typically adds 3–5 weeks to the process — in addition to having already spent 3–5 weeks on the dismissed case.

Geographic pattern of the Acworth county split

As a general geographic pattern:

• Most of downtown Acworth, Lake Acworth neighborhoods, properties south of the railroad tracks, and the I-75 corridor through central Acworth are in Cobb County → file at 32 Waddell St, Marietta.
• Northern Acworth addresses near Allatoona Pass, properties along Allatoona Road toward the Cherokee County line, and parcels near the northern city limit boundary may be in Cherokee County → file at 90 North Street, Canton.

However, the geographic pattern is not reliable for individual parcels because Acworth’s annexation history has pushed the city boundary irregularly across the county line. A property one block from a confirmed Cobb County parcel may itself be in Cherokee County.

How to verify before filing

1. qpublic.net — Georgia’s statewide parcel search portal. Enter the property address. The result will display the county of record. This is the fastest verification step.
2. Cobb County Tax Assessor (cobbtax.org) — If the qpublic search returns a Cobb County record, confirm the parcel number and county designation.
3. Cherokee County Tax Assessor (cherokeecountyga.gov/tax-assessor) — If the qpublic search returns a Cherokee County record, confirm at the Cherokee County assessor portal.

Verify before serving any demand notice, before filing any dispossessory, and before responding to any legal notice from a tenant. Do not rely on: the mailing address city name, the ZIP code, a tenant’s statement, the property management software county field (which may default to the mailing city), or your own proximity assumption.

City 1: Kennesaw — Cobb County, KSU, and the 18–22 mile courthouse commute

Overview

Kennesaw (~35,000 population) is a Cobb County city approximately 25 miles north of downtown Atlanta on the I-75 corridor. It is not the Cobb County seat — Marietta holds that designation — but Kennesaw is the largest city in the I-75 North corridor by population and anchors one of the most distinctive rental markets in Georgia: the university-adjacent off-campus rental zone driven by Kennesaw State University’s ~44,000 students.

Kennesaw State University: Georgia’s largest university by enrollment

KSU (1000 Chastain Rd NW, Kennesaw GA 30144) enrolled approximately 44,000 students as of 2022/2023, surpassing the University of Georgia’s ~41,000 enrollment to become Georgia’s largest university. KSU’s enrollment growth has been rapid and structural: the university was created from Kennesaw State College in 1996, merged with Southern Polytechnic State University in 2015, and has absorbed Atlanta metro population growth as a commuter-model comprehensive research university.

The commuter model is the key operational fact for Kennesaw landlords: approximately 90% of KSU students do not live in campus housing. Off-campus rental demand radiates outward from the KSU campus along the University Dr, Chastain Rd NW, Barrett Lakes Blvd, and Wade Green Rd corridors. Current near-KSU rents:

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

WellStar Kennestone Hospital (677 Stonecrest Blvd, on the Kennesaw–Marietta border area) is a 633-bed, Level II Trauma Center and one of the largest hospitals in Georgia. It employs approximately 5,000+ workers across all functions, generating a significant healthcare-worker rental market in the north Marietta / Kennesaw corridor. WellStar is part of WellStar Health System, the largest health system in Georgia. Healthcare workers — RNs, imaging techs, surgical techs, residents — at Kennestone typically earn $55,000–$120,000+, creating demand for 1BR/2BR units in the $1,100–$1,900 range.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (~2,923 acres) covers a significant portion of Kennesaw’s western terrain. As federal National Park Service land, it permanently constrains westward residential development — there will be no new apartment complexes or SFR communities on the Kennesaw Mountain side of the city. This supply constraint supports above-market rents in neighborhoods adjacent to the park, particularly in the Stilesboro Rd and Cheatham Hill corridors.

Kennesaw courthouse realities

Kennesaw landlords file every dispossessory at Cobb County Magistrate Court, 32 Waddell St, Marietta GA 30090. The drive from most Kennesaw addresses is 18–22 miles south via I-75 or US-41 — approximately 25–45 minutes depending on Cobb County traffic. Kennesaw landlords cannot “quick-file” locally; every eviction requires planning the courthouse trip around Cobb County court business hours (Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm).

City 2: Woodstock — Cherokee County’s fastest-growing city

Overview

Woodstock (~37,000 population) is one of Georgia’s fastest-growing cities, having grown approximately 270% since 2000. It sits in Cherokee County approximately 30 miles north of Atlanta on the I-575/SR-140 corridor. Woodstock is a pure bedroom community: the city has virtually no large industrial employers of its own, drawing its rental demand primarily from Atlanta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta, and Roswell commuters who chose Woodstock for its lower housing costs, its downtown revitalization, and the Cherokee County School District’s reputation.

Downtown Woodstock revitalization premium

Woodstock’s downtown (Main Street / Rope Mill Rd area) has undergone a significant revitalization over the past 10–15 years, with an amphitheater (hosting national touring acts), Reformation Brewery, craft restaurants, and the Greenprints Trail creating a walkable urban core that commands a premium over the broader Woodstock market. Downtown/walkable Woodstock 1BR units rent for $1,300–$1,900/month — a $200–$400/month premium over equivalent units in non-walkable SR-140 corridors.

Remote work-driven rent spike and post-2023 stabilization

Woodstock and Cherokee County experienced one of the most pronounced pandemic-era rent spikes in the Atlanta metro: rents from 2020 through 2022 rose approximately 30–45% above 2019 baseline, as Atlanta-area remote workers relocated to Cherokee County seeking larger homes, lower density, and green space. Post-2023 stabilization has held most of those gains — Woodstock rents have not materially reverted to 2019 levels. The structural driver (lack of supply relative to Atlanta exurban demand) has not changed.

Current Woodstock rents:

HOA-dominated SFR and townhome market

A significant portion of Woodstock’s SFR and townhome stock sits within HOA-managed communities. Many of these HOAs impose rental restrictions: some require HOA approval before leasing, some cap the percentage of units that can be rented (rental cap ratios), and some require tenants to be registered with the HOA. Landlords purchasing SFR/townhome units in Woodstock must review the HOA’s Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) before acquiring the property. HOA lease-approval requirements and rental caps are enforceable and can create delays or restrictions on a landlord’s ability to rent. HOA violations — assessed by the HOA for unit conditions, tenant behavior, or lease-approval failures — are ultimately the landlord’s financial responsibility, not the tenant’s, even if the violation stems from tenant actions.

Woodstock courthouse: Canton at 10–12 miles north

Woodstock landlords file at Cherokee County Magistrate Court, 90 North Street, Canton GA 30114 — approximately 10–12 miles north via SR-140 West to I-575 North. This is a more manageable courthouse commute than Kennesaw’s 18–22 miles to Marietta, and Woodstock landlords benefit from Cherokee County’s typically efficient dispossessory timelines (~3–4 weeks uncontested).

City 3: Canton — the Cherokee County seat

Overview

Canton (~28,000 city population) is the Cherokee County seat — smaller than Woodstock by city population but the county’s administrative, judicial, and governmental center. As of 2026, Cherokee County as a whole has approximately 280,000 residents, roughly double its 2000 population of ~141,000. I-575 — a spur of I-75 — terminates in Canton, making the city the growth bottleneck for north Cherokee County: everything north of Canton on the US-19/SR-5 corridor involves two-lane highway travel.

Canton’s courthouse advantage

Canton’s single greatest practical advantage for landlords is that the Cherokee County Magistrate Court and Superior Court are both located at 90 North Street, Canton GA 30114 — within Canton’s city limits. Canton landlords file evictions at a courthouse in their own city, while Woodstock landlords travel north, Ball Ground landlords travel south, and all unincorporated Cherokee County landlords converge on Canton. For a landlord managing a portfolio entirely within Canton city limits, the eviction process begins and ends within the same city.

Cherokee County cities and their distances to the Canton courthouse:

Northside Hospital Cherokee

Northside Hospital Cherokee (201 Hospital Rd, Canton GA 30114) is a 150-bed, Level III Trauma Center and part of the Northside Hospital system, one of the largest health systems in Atlanta. It employs approximately 1,800+ workers across all functions — Canton’s single largest employer — generating stable, year-round demand for 1BR/2BR units in the $900–$1,600 range. Healthcare workers at Northside Cherokee (RNs, surgical techs, medical assistants, administrative staff) earn $45,000–$110,000+, creating demand across the mid-market rental spectrum.

Canton rents and I-575 terminus premium

Canton’s I-575 terminus position means that properties immediately south of downtown Canton, in areas with direct I-575 on-ramp access, carry a commuter convenience premium for Atlanta-area commuters who have migrated outward along the Cherokee County corridor. Downtown Canton revitalization (Etowah River Riverwalk, craft breweries, Reinventing Canton initiative) has added a modest walkability premium to Main Street / Marietta Rd corridor units.

City 4: Acworth — the Cobb/Cherokee county-split and Lake Allatoona

Overview

Acworth (~25,000 population) sits on the I-75 corridor approximately 35 miles north of Atlanta. It is a Cobb County city — predominantly — with a significant northwestern strip that extends into Cherokee County. The city’s most distinctive geographic feature is Lake Allatoona, which borders and partially surrounds Acworth’s eastern and northern edges. Acworth functions primarily as an Atlanta commuter city, with the I-75 and US-41 corridors providing access to Marietta, Cumberland, and Atlanta.

Lake Allatoona: the USACE federal shoreline and what it means for landlords

Lake Allatoona is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under the Flood Control Act of 1944 authorization for the Allatoona Dam project. The USACE controls approximately 12,000 acres of lake surface and approximately 270 miles of shoreline under federal ownership or easement.

The key fact for landlords: no private property on Lake Allatoona has deeded private lakefront access in the sense of owning the shoreline itself. Properties marketed as “lakefront,” “lake view,” or “lake access” are adjacent to USACE-managed federal land. Tenants can access the lake through USACE-managed public boat ramps, day-use areas, and parks — these are federal public facilities open to all. What they cannot do is treat the shoreline adjacent to the property as private land.

The premium is real despite this structure:

Short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO) competition is intense in the lake-adjacent zone, particularly May through September. Long-term landlords in this submarket face higher vacancy risk in summer as vacation-rental demand inflates comparable prices while reducing tenant supply (many prospective long-term tenants who might rent in October–April test vacation rentals in summer first).

Acworth courthouse verification: the mandatory pre-filing step

As described in the earlier Acworth county-split section, verification at qpublic.net is mandatory before filing any dispossessory for an Acworth property. Build this verification step into the standard eviction intake procedure for every Acworth property in the portfolio — not as a one-time check when the property is acquired, but as a recurring confirmation before each filing, because title transfers and annexation boundary changes can theoretically alter the picture.

City 5: Cartersville — the Bartow County seat on the I-75 midpoint

Overview

Cartersville (~27,000 population) is the Bartow County seat, located 40 miles north of Atlanta and 65 miles south of Chattanooga on I-75 at the intersection with US-41. Like Canton with Cherokee County, Cartersville has the courthouse advantage: the Bartow County Magistrate Court sits at 135 W Cherokee Ave, Cartersville GA 30120 — within the city. Cartersville landlords file evictions locally.

Cartersville’s rental market is driven by its manufacturing and distribution base rather than healthcare or university demand. Its I-75 midpoint position — Atlanta commuter reach to the south, Chattanooga day-trip to the north — has historically attracted distribution centers, industrial facilities, and breweries to its I-75 interchange zones.

Anheuser-Busch Cartersville Brewery

The Anheuser-Busch Cartersville Brewery (100 Budweiser Dr, Cartersville GA 30120) is one of Budweiser’s 12 U.S. brewing facilities and employs approximately 600–800 workers. Brewery workers (operators, maintenance technicians, quality control, distribution logistics) earn $22–$45/hour, generating demand for working-class and mid-market SFR in the $1,100–$1,900 range. The brewery has operated in Cartersville since the 1970s and represents long-term stable employment; AB InBev’s U.S. brewing consolidation over the past decade has not resulted in Cartersville closures.

AdventHealth Cartersville

AdventHealth Cartersville (960 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE, Cartersville GA 30120) employs approximately 800–1,000 workers — Cartersville’s largest single employer — across inpatient hospital, outpatient clinics, and administrative functions. Healthcare workers at AdventHealth earn $45,000–$110,000+, generating demand for 1BR/2BR apartments at $750–$1,400 and SFR at $1,300–$1,900 in the Cartersville market.

The dual school district pricing split

Cartersville has two separate public school systems serving properties within and around the city:

• Cartersville City Schools — an independent city school district serving properties within Cartersville’s incorporated city limits. Cartersville City Schools has historically achieved higher Georgia Milestones scores than the countywide system and is frequently cited in tenant property searches by families with school-age children.
• Bartow County School System — the countywide system serving all unincorporated Bartow County and incorporated communities other than Cartersville.

The pricing consequence: SFR properties in the Cartersville City Schools zone command $75–$150/month more than comparable SFR in the Bartow County School System zone. For a 3BR SFR: city schools zone $1,300–$1,900/month; Bartow County zone $1,100–$1,700/month.

Cultural institutions creating a tourism-adjacent rental premium

Cartersville’s cultural offerings are disproportionate for a city of its size:

• Booth Western Art Museum (501 Museum Dr, Cartersville GA 30120) — 120,000+ square feet, housing the largest permanent exhibition of Western art in the Eastern United States. Attracts national and international visitors year-round; generates cultural tourism that supports downtown Cartersville hospitality and retail.
• Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site (813 Indian Mounds Rd SW) — a National Historic Landmark and the largest pre-Columbian Native American mound complex in Georgia. Draws archaeological tourism and educational groups.
• Tellus Science Museum (100 Tellus Dr, Cartersville GA 30120) — a 120,000-square-foot natural history and science museum with a significant gem and mineral collection (Georgia is a significant gemstone state) and a planetarium.

These institutions contribute to Cartersville’s civic identity and support a modest but real tourism economy that keeps downtown retail/restaurant vacancy lower than peer I-75 cities. For landlords, they are not direct demand drivers for residential rentals, but they support the city’s economic stability and attractiveness relative to pure industrial I-75 corridor cities.

Major employers: 15-employer table across five cities

Rent reference: 20 rows across all five cities

Ten costliest landlord mistakes in Northwest Metro Atlanta

1. Filing an Acworth dispossessory at the wrong courthouse. Automatic dismissal. Re-filing fee plus 3–5 additional weeks. Verify every Acworth parcel at qpublic.net before filing, every time, no exceptions.
2. Skipping the Georgia move-in inspection form (§44-7-33). The statute creates a conclusive presumption that the landlord is liable for all damage if the form is not provided. No deductions. No exceptions. A $3,000 carpet replacement becomes the landlord’s expense regardless of who caused it.
3. Marketing an Acworth lake-adjacent unit as having “private lakefront access.” USACE owns the shoreline. Tenants have public access, not private access. Misrepresenting USACE-managed shoreline as private deeded access creates tenant-dispute exposure and potential fraud liability.
4. Failing to verify the Cartersville school district before marketing. Not every Cartersville address is in Cartersville City Schools. Marketing a property as “Cartersville City Schools zone” when it is actually in Bartow County School System exposes the landlord to misrepresentation claims and undermines the tenancy from the first renewal negotiation.
5. Assuming KSU creates traditional student vacancy patterns. KSU’s commuter model (~90% off-campus) means most students live year-round, not on a 9-month academic calendar. Unlike traditional campus towns with summer vacancy spikes, near-KSU Kennesaw has more stable year-round absorption. Landlords who price conservatively in summer unnecessarily leave income on the table.
6. Ignoring HOA rental restrictions in Woodstock. Purchasing a Woodstock HOA townhome or SFR without reviewing the CC&Rs for rental caps, approval requirements, or tenant registration obligations can result in HOA fines assessed against the landlord for tenant violations, HOA rejection of the tenancy, or inability to rent at all if the community has reached its rental cap percentage.
7. Withholding a deposit in bad faith or missing the 30-day return deadline. Georgia’s 3× treble damages (§44-7-37) plus attorney fees apply to bad-faith withholding. On a $2,000 Kennesaw 2BR deposit wrongfully withheld: potential judgment = $6,000 + fees. Return within 30 days of termination and forwarding address, with a complete itemized statement.
8. Attempting self-help eviction. Changing locks, removing tenant belongings, or cutting utilities before a Writ of Possession is issued violates O.C.G.A. §44-7-35 and exposes the landlord to actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. Georgia’s dispossessory timeline is already among the fastest in the Southeast; there is no practical benefit to self-help that outweighs this risk.
9. Relying on verbal rent increase notices for month-to-month tenants. While Georgia does not have a statewide written-notice statute for rent increases, a verbal notice creates an evidentiary problem if the tenant later disputes when or whether the increase was communicated. Written notice (hand-delivered or certified mail) dated at least 30 days in advance is the professional standard for all month-to-month tenancies.
10. Failing to account for the Cobb County court traffic reality. Kennesaw and Acworth landlords with Cobb County parcels drive 18–22 miles south to Marietta — through I-75 and US-41 Cobb County traffic. Under-estimating this commute, especially for mid-morning courthouse arrivals, causes missed filing windows and extended eviction timelines. Budget at least 45–60 minutes each way during standard business hours.

12-step Georgia RLTA compliance checklist for Northwest Metro Atlanta landlords

1. Verify county at qpublic.net before signing a lease or filing any legal action (critical for Acworth; good practice for all five cities).
2. Prepare a written lease specifying rent amount, due date, late fee structure, pet policy, lease term (fixed or month-to-month), and notice requirements. Georgia courts interpret ambiguous lease terms against the drafter (typically the landlord).
3. Complete the Georgia move-in inspection form (§44-7-33) with the tenant present at or before move-in. Document every existing condition in writing. Photograph and video every room, appliance, and fixture before handing over keys. Both parties sign; landlord retains a copy. Failure to complete this form eliminates all deposit-deduction rights.
4. Collect the security deposit (no Georgia statutory cap; standard market practice is 1–2 months’ rent). Hold deposits in a separate bank account if managing 10+ units (Georgia requires this for property managers above this threshold; best practice regardless of portfolio size).
5. Obtain any required local permits. Kennesaw, Woodstock, Canton, Acworth, and Cartersville each have their own rental registration or business license requirements. Verify with each city’s planning/zoning department.
6. For Woodstock HOA properties, confirm HOA rental approval before executing a lease. Register the tenancy with the HOA as required. Provide tenant with HOA rules and confirm the tenant acknowledges them in writing.
7. For Acworth lake-adjacent properties, include a written disclosure describing the USACE shoreline ownership structure, clarifying that lake access is public access to federal land rather than private deeded access. This avoids tenant misunderstanding disputes at move-out or renewal.
8. For Cartersville properties, verify the school district zone at move-in (Cartersville City Schools or Bartow County School System) and accurately represent this in all marketing materials and the written lease.
9. Issue rent increase notices in writing, dated at least 30 days before the increase takes effect, for all month-to-month tenancies. For fixed-term leases, negotiate renewal terms in writing at least 60 days before lease expiration.
10. On tenant move-out, conduct a joint move-out inspection where possible, photograph all conditions, compare to move-in documentation, and provide the tenant with a forwarding address request form.
11. Return the security deposit within 30 days of lease termination AND receipt of the tenant’s forwarding address, with a fully itemized statement of any deductions (each deduction itemized by specific damage, description, and dollar amount). A general “cleaning fee: $300” is less defensible than “professional carpet cleaning, 2BR/875 sq ft: $185; bathroom tile scrub: $75; oven degreasing: $40.”
12. If eviction becomes necessary, re-verify county (for Acworth), file at the correct Magistrate Court with the Dispossessory Affidavit, and wait for the Sheriff to serve process before any further action. Do not change locks, remove property, or cut utilities before the Writ of Possession is issued and executed. Keep records of all demand notices, filings, and communications.