The Houston County Public Safety Complex at 123 Old Highway 96 in Bonaire, directly across from Bonaire Elementary School, opened in September 2023 as a single building housing a county fire station, an emergency medical services station and a Houston County Sheriff's Office precinct. The county built the $4.1 million, 10,482-square-foot facility to replace a Bonaire fire station that was 50 years old and had been designed for volunteer firefighters, and it cited the rapid growth of the unincorporated neighborhoods around Bonaire as the reason.
Next door at 127 Old Highway 96, Houston Healthcare built a medical office building in the same project, intended to house a family practice and a women's health practice. Both buildings broke ground on December 14, 2022 and were celebrated together at a joint opening ceremony on September 22, 2023. Houston Healthcare became part of Emory Healthcare on June 1, 2025, and its hospitals in Warner Robins and Perry now carry the Emory name.
For homeowners, the complex is more than a landmark. The distance from a home to a fire station and the response capability of the department that serves it are factors insurers weigh in rating homeowners policies, and the location of a staffed station in the middle of Bonaire is information a buyer or owner can raise with an insurance agent. It is also a concrete example of county infrastructure following residential growth south of Warner Robins along Highway 96 and Highway 247.
What Is Inside the Complex
Function | Details |
Fire station | Houston County Fire Department station with bunk rooms, kitchen, living area and weight room; houses two primary trucks, a reserve truck and the department's water rescue equipment |
EMS station | Emergency Medical Services base co-located with fire for coordinated response |
Sheriff's precinct | Houston County Sheriff's Office precinct serving the Bonaire area |
Building | 10,482 square feet, five garage bays for large vehicles, two standard garages, three day rooms and three kitchen areas, per the construction contractor |
Cost and timeline | $4.1 million; groundbreaking December 14, 2022; opening September 22, 2023 |
Why the County Built It in Bonaire
Bonaire is unincorporated, which means every public safety service is delivered by Houston County rather than a city. As subdivisions filled in along Highway 96, Highway 247 and the Mossy Creek corridor over two decades, the volunteer-era station on the site fell behind the population it served. County officials said at the time that the area had grown to the point that a facility with living quarters for full-time staff, room for modern apparatus and space for a sheriff's precinct was needed, and that co-locating the three functions would improve response times and coordination.
The project is one of several county investments on the south side of the county in the same period, alongside the $15 million water treatment facility approved for Kathleen in January 2026 and the Veterans Middle School campus under construction across from Veterans High School. Together they mark the county's response to growth that has moved its population center steadily south from Warner Robins.
Public Safety Across Houston County's Communities
Community | Fire and EMS | Law enforcement |
Bonaire | Houston County Fire and EMS; Public Safety Complex on Old Hwy 96 | Houston County Sheriff's Office precinct at the complex |
Kathleen | Houston County Fire and EMS | Houston County Sheriff's Office |
Warner Robins | Warner Robins Fire Department; county EMS | Warner Robins Police Department |
Perry | Perry Fire Department; county EMS | Perry Police Department |
Centerville | Centerville Fire Department; county EMS | Centerville Police Department |
Neighboring Byron | Byron Fire Department and Peach County | Byron Police Department and Peach County Sheriff |
Should I Mention the Fire Station When I Sell My Bonaire Home?
A listing that notes proximity to a staffed fire and EMS station is giving a buyer information that affects both safety and, potentially, insurance cost, since insurers rate homeowners policies in part on the distance to a responding station and the department's protection classification. The specific effect on a premium depends on the carrier, the address and the department's rating, so the accurate way to present it is as a fact about location rather than as a promised discount.
From my side, Bonaire sellers have a good story to tell about county investment on this side of the county, and the complex is the most visible piece of it. A buyer comparing Bonaire to Kathleen or to a Warner Robins address is comparing service providers as well as prices, and Bonaire's answer, a purpose-built station a few minutes from most of its neighborhoods, is a strong one. Bonaire recorded 43 residential closings at a $359,154 median in August 2026, with VA financing leading, and those buyers ask about exactly this.
Does Distance to a Fire Station Affect My Homeowners Insurance in Bonaire?
It can. Insurers commonly use the responding fire department's protection classification and the distance from the home to the nearest station and water source when rating a property. A home within a few road miles of a staffed station generally rates more favorably than one farther out, all else being equal. The exact treatment varies by carrier, and Houston County's current classification should be confirmed with an insurance agent rather than assumed.
My advice to buyers is to ask two questions before closing on any Bonaire home: which station responds to the address, and what does the insurance quote assume about it. The Public Safety Complex serves much of Bonaire, but the county operates other stations and the responding station is assigned by location. A quote that accounts for the right station is a quote you can rely on, and it is a five-minute conversation with an agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Houston County Public Safety Complex?
The Houston County Public Safety Complex is at 123 Old Highway 96 in Bonaire, Georgia, directly across the street from Bonaire Elementary School. It houses a Houston County Fire Department station, an Emergency Medical Services station and a Houston County Sheriff's Office precinct in a single 10,482-square-foot building that opened September 22, 2023.
How much did the Bonaire public safety complex cost?
The Houston County Public Safety Complex cost $4.1 million, according to Houston County officials as reported by 13WMAZ and WGXA. Construction began with a groundbreaking on December 14, 2022, and the facility opened with a joint ceremony on September 22, 2023.
What did the new Bonaire fire station replace?
The complex replaced a Bonaire fire station that was about 50 years old and had been designed for volunteer firefighters. County fire officials said the old facility could not keep up with the growth in the Bonaire area and that the new station includes bunk rooms, a kitchen, a living area and a weight room to support full-time staffing.
What is the medical building next to the Bonaire fire station?
The building at 127 Old Highway 96 is a medical office building constructed by Houston Healthcare as part of the same project as the Public Safety Complex. It was planned to house a family practice and a women's health practice. Houston Healthcare became part of Emory Healthcare on June 1, 2025, and current practice names and hours should be confirmed directly.
Who provides fire and police service in Bonaire, GA?
Bonaire is unincorporated, so fire protection and emergency medical services are provided by Houston County and law enforcement by the Houston County Sheriff's Office. There is no city police or fire department because there is no city government; residents pay the county property tax and school tax without a municipal levy.
Does living near a fire station lower homeowners insurance?
Insurers commonly consider the responding fire department's protection classification and the distance from a home to the nearest fire station and water source when rating homeowners policies, and homes closer to a staffed station generally rate more favorably. The effect on a specific premium depends on the carrier and the address and should be confirmed with an insurance agent.
Why did Houston County build a public safety complex in Bonaire?
County officials said the unincorporated neighborhoods around Bonaire had grown substantially, the existing station was outdated and built for volunteers, and co-locating fire, EMS and a sheriff's precinct in one facility would improve response times and coordination. The project reflects county infrastructure following residential growth south of Warner Robins.
Which fire station responds to my Bonaire address?
The responding station is assigned by location by the Houston County Fire Department, and the Public Safety Complex on Old Highway 96 serves much of the Bonaire area. Because the county operates multiple stations, homeowners and buyers should confirm the responding station for a specific address with the fire department or an insurance agent rather than assume.
What other county projects serve Bonaire and Kathleen?
Recent county investments on the south side of Houston County include the $15 million water treatment facility approved for Kathleen in January 2026, the Veterans Middle School campus scheduled to open in August 2027 across from Veterans High School, and the Public Safety Complex in Bonaire. The county's capital improvement plan also lists road projects funded through SPLOST.
How is the Bonaire housing market performing?
Bonaire recorded 43 residential closings at a $359,154 median in August 2026, per Central Georgia MLS, with VA financing accounting for 17 of the 43 closings, the most of any financing type. Homes between Highway 96 and Mossy Creek posted a $371,760 median and homes between Watson Boulevard South and Highway 96 posted $292,000.
Is Bonaire a city?
No. Bonaire is an unincorporated community in Houston County, Georgia, with no city government, city council or municipal property tax. Public services are provided by Houston County, and Bonaire addresses fall within the Houston County School District, with most neighborhoods zoned for Veterans High School.
What is at the Bonaire Elementary School intersection on Old Highway 96?
Bonaire Elementary School sits on Old Highway 96 directly across from the Houston County Public Safety Complex at 123 Old Highway 96 and the medical office building at 127 Old Highway 96. The cluster places a school, fire and EMS station, sheriff's precinct and physician offices at one intersection in the center of Bonaire.
About the Author
William Walton-Dean is a licensed REALTOR® with Walton Dean Realty, operating under Real Broker LLC, serving buyers and sellers across Houston County, Georgia, including Perry, Warner Robins, Bonaire, Kathleen, Byron, and the surrounding Middle Georgia housing market. Known for a data-driven, hyper-local approach and deep expertise in the military and PCS relocation market around Robins Air Force Base, he helps buyers and sellers at every price point make clear, confident decisions backed by real market insight.
📱 478-371-7069
Walton Dean Realty | Real Broker LLC
Buying or Selling in Bonaire? Let's Talk
Bonaire's services are county services, and knowing which station, which precinct and which doctor's office serve a specific address is part of buying well here. Reach out and I will tell you what is around the house before it becomes a surprise, whether you are buying or getting ready to list.
William Walton-Dean | Walton Dean Realty
📱 478-371-7069
A More Strategic Approach to Real Estate
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute real estate, legal, tax or financial advice. Figures reflect the reporting periods, sources and reporting areas stated and are subject to change. Public meeting dates, proposals, votes and project timelines are subject to revision by the governing bodies involved and should be confirmed directly with the applicable agency before relying on them. Consult a licensed REALTOR®, attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Walton Dean Realty operates under Real Broker LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.
