You’re driving down Ashford Dunwoody Road, past the massive glass towers of State Farm and the sprawling corridors of Perimeter Mall, and you start to wonder. Is this Atlanta? Sandy Springs?
Actually, it's Dunwoody. But the bigger question most newcomers—and even some long-time renters—trip over is simpler: what county is Dunwoody anyway?
It’s DeKalb County.
I know, it feels like it should be Fulton. You’re right on the line. You can literally throw a rock from some Dunwoody backyards and hit Sandy Springs, which is firmly in Fulton County. But Dunwoody sits at the very northern tip of DeKalb, squeezed between the Fulton line to the west and the Gwinnett line to the northeast.
Why the DeKalb County Connection Is a Big Deal
Being in DeKalb isn't just a trivia fact for your next neighborhood block party. It dictates everything from where your property tax check goes to which bus your kids board in the morning.
If you live here, you aren't part of the Atlanta Public Schools system. You’re in the DeKalb County School District. That’s a massive distinction. We’re talking about the third-largest school system in Georgia. For parents in the 30338 or 30346 zip codes, this means your kids are heading to schools like Dunwoody Elementary or Dunwoody High, all operating under the DeKalb banner.
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Then there’s the money. Property taxes in Georgia are a maze, but in Dunwoody, you’re paying both city and county levies.
The city of Dunwoody itself is actually quite young—it only incorporated in 2008. Before that, the "city" was just a patch of unincorporated DeKalb County. When the residents voted to become their own city, they took over things like police, parks, and zoning. However, DeKalb County kept control of the "big" stuff: the courts, the jail, and the water system.
The Identity Crisis of the Perimeter Area
Dunwoody has a bit of an identity crisis because of its location. It’s part of the "Perimeter Center" market. This area is one of the largest business districts in the Southeast, but it’s split right down the middle by the county line.
- The West Side: Sandy Springs (Fulton County)
- The East Side: Dunwoody (DeKalb County)
It’s weird. You can have lunch at a restaurant in Fulton and walk across the street to your office in DeKalb.
Honestly, for a long time, people just called the whole area "North Atlanta." But if you’re looking at a map, look for the "top end" of the I-285 perimeter. Dunwoody is that little triangle tucked into the corner where I-285 and GA-400 meet, but strictly on the DeKalb side of the boundary.
What County Is Dunwoody Residents' Tax Haven?
Okay, maybe "tax haven" is a stretch. Nobody loves taxes. But there is a specific benefit to being in the Dunwoody/DeKalb setup that catches people by surprise: the Host Homestead Exemption.
DeKalb County has some pretty unique tax credits (like HOST and EHOST) that can significantly lower the county portion of your property tax bill compared to neighbors in Fulton.
In 2022, the city slightly bumped its millage rate to around 3.04 mills, but because of how DeKalb handles assessments, many homeowners here have their property assessments "frozen" for city tax purposes. This means even if the house next door sells for a million dollars, your city tax value doesn't necessarily skyrocket overnight.
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Life on the Edge: The Fulton and Gwinnett Borders
Living in a "corner" town like Dunwoody means your daily life is a multi-county experience.
- Shopping: You might live in DeKalb, but you probably do your grocery shopping at the Publix in Sandy Springs (Fulton).
- Commuting: If you take MARTA, the Dunwoody Station is in DeKalb, but the North Springs station just a few minutes away is in Fulton.
- The Gwinnett Factor: On the eastern edge, near Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, you’re bumping right up against Gwinnett County.
This proximity is why people get confused. When a major storm hits or a "Snowmageddon" event happens (we still haven't forgotten 2014), residents have to check DeKalb County Government alerts, not Atlanta or Fulton ones.
The 2008 Shift: Why We Became a City
For decades, Dunwoody was just a wealthy suburb that felt ignored by the county seat in Decatur. The "cityhood movement" was a rebellion of sorts. Residents felt their tax dollars were being sent south to Decatur while their own roads crumbled and their parks were neglected.
When the city finally incorporated in 2008, it was a landmark moment for DeKalb County. It was the first new city in the county since 1937.
Suddenly, we had our own police force. You started seeing those white and blue Dunwoody PD SUVs everywhere. The response times dropped. The parks, like Brook Run Park, went from being overgrown woods to having dog parks, amphitheatres, and massive playgrounds.
But even with all that local control, we never left DeKalb. We just became a "city within the county."
Practical Realities of Being in DeKalb
If you’re moving here or just trying to get your paperwork in order, there are a few things you just have to deal with at the county level.
The Water Bill
This is a common gripe. Your water doesn't come from the City of Dunwoody. It comes from DeKalb County Watershed Management. If there’s a water main break—which, let’s be real, happens more than we’d like—you’re calling the county, not the city.
The Library
The Dunwoody Library is a gem. It sits right in the heart of the village near the iconic farmhouse. But again, it’s a branch of the DeKalb County Public Library system.
Voter Registration
When election season rolls around, you’re voting for DeKalb County Commissioners. Your polling place is managed by the DeKalb Board of Registrations and Elections.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for Dunwoody Locals
If you're still scratching your head about who does what, here is the breakdown of how the city/county split actually works in your daily life:
- Cops: Dunwoody (Local)
- Potholes on side streets: Dunwoody (Local)
- Trash pickup: Usually private or city-contracted (currently DeKalb County Sanitation handles most residential)
- Courts and Marriage Licenses: DeKalb County (Decatur)
- Public Schools: DeKalb County District
- Property Tax Payments: DeKalb County Tax Commissioner
Is Dunwoody Still Growing?
As of 2026, the population is hovering around 52,000. It’s dense, it’s busy, and it’s affluent. The median household income is way higher than the Georgia average—regularly topping $100k.
But because it’s so built out, there isn't much "new" land. The growth now is vertical. We’re seeing more high-rise apartments and mixed-use developments near the Dunwoody MARTA station.
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This "urbanization" of a DeKalb suburb is fascinating. You have the quiet, leafy streets of neighborhoods like Redfield or Mount Vernon Estates just a mile away from 20-story corporate headquarters.
Don't Get It Wrong at the DMV
Here is a pro-tip: if you just moved to Dunwoody from out of state, don't go to the Fulton County tag office because you think you're in "North Atlanta." You'll wait in line for two hours just to be told you're in the wrong place.
You need the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's office. The closest one is usually the North DeKalb substation.
Actionable Steps for New Dunwoody Residents
If you've recently settled into this corner of DeKalb, there are three things you should do immediately to make sure you're legally "in."
First, file for your Homestead Exemption. You have to do this through the DeKalb Tax Commissioner. Do it before April 1st, or you’re essentially lighting money on fire. This is the biggest perk of being a homeowner in DeKalb.
Second, register for the Dunwoody North Alert system. Since we have our own police department, their notification system is much more relevant for local traffic and safety than the general county-wide alerts.
Finally, verify your school zone. Even though all of Dunwoody is in DeKalb, the school clusters can be tight. Use the DeKalb County School District’s "School Locator" tool to be 100% sure which elementary school your address feeds into. Boundary shifts aren't common, but they do happen as the Perimeter area gets more crowded.
Knowing that Dunwoody is in DeKalb County is the first step in actually navigating the "north of the city" lifestyle without getting lost in the bureaucracy.