If you are looking to raise chickens in your backyard in the State of Georgia, it is important to check if it is allowed in your county or city. Fortunately, many counties and cities in Georgia permit their residents to keep backyard chickens. In fact, according to Atlanta Pet Life, The Georgia Department of Agriculture has no law that regulates the keeping of backyard chickens.
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However, before buying chickens to keep in your backyard, you should check your county or city animal laws to ensure you are in full compliance with all rules, regulations, zoning and permit requirements. In addition, you also need to check with your landlord or Homeowners association, as they may also have their own rules regarding the keeping of chickens on their properties. So, where in The Goober State are people allowed to have backyard chickens and how many chickens can you keep?
Fulton County, GA
In Fulton County, the city of Atlanta allows the keeping of up to 75 backyard chickens, depending on what part of the city you live in, as well as the size of your property. You can have more than 75 chickens if you reside in an area zoned for agriculture in Atlanta. Furthermore, backyard chickens in Atlanta must be kept 25 away from any nearby occupied building. More info can be found in the City of Atlanta's Municode Library.
In the city of Roswell, backyard chickens are allowed but the number of chickens you can keep depends on the size of your property. People living on properties of less than 0.33 acre are not allowed to keep backyard chickens in the city of Roswell. The City allows up to six chickens on properties of 0.34 acre to 1.00 acre and twelve chickens or more on properties of more than 1.00 acre. However, the city of Roswell does not allow roosters. Furthermore, Roswell chicken owners must keep their chickens in such a way that they do not disturb the peace of their neighbors.
The city of Alpharetta allows a minimum of six backyard chickens on residential properties of 1 acre or more. Roosters are not allowed in Alpharetta and chicken coops must be kept at least 25 feet away from rear and side property lines. The same rules are in place in the city of Milton.
Gwinnett County, GA
Gwinnett County permits chickens in non-agricultural residential zoning districts so long as the chickens are kept for egg-laying production or as pets. However, the number of backyard chickens residents can have in Gwinnett County depends on lot size.
Gwinnett allows the keeping of up to ten chickens, depending on lot size. The County requires that chickens be kept securely in an enclosed yard at all times and at least 20 feet away from property lines and 50 feet away from any nearby residence. Roosters are not permitted and chickens cannot be kept for slaughter in Gwinnett County.
Cobb County, GA
The rules regarding the keeping of backyard chickens in Cobb County, GA, vary by city. In the city of Marietta, for instance, chickens are permitted on properties zoned R-1. The keeping of roosters is prohibited in Marietta. The maximum number of chickens allowed per property in Marietta is 4. However, you need a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet to keep backyard chickens in Marietta. In addition, backyard chickens must be kept 20 feet away from property lines.
The city of Powder Springs allows backyard chickens so long as they are kept as pets or for the purpose of non-commercial production of eggs. Only hens are allowed in Powder Springs and the number of hens a resident can keep depends on the size of the lots. A maximum of 3 hens are allowed on 0.5 acre to 1 acre lots, 6 hens on 1.01 to 2 acre lots, 9 hens on 2.01 to 3 acre lots, and 12 hens on 3.01 or more acre lots. Powder Springs law requires that all chicken coops be kept at least 20 feet away from all property lines and no less than 50 feet away from any nearby residence.
DeKalb County, GA
Many cities in DeKalb County, GA, allow the keeping of backyard chickens. The city of Stonecrest allows one hen per 2,000 square feet of lot size. A minimum of 10,000 square feet lot size is required for the keeping of backyard chickens in Stonecrest.
Furthermore, Stonecrest law requires that chicken coops be kept at least 20 feet away from any property line, and 50 feet from any nearby residence. Similar rules are in place in the city of Brookhaven.
However, Brookhaven allows a maximum of 25 chickens, excluding roosters, per lot. Other cities in DeKalb County that allow backyard chickens include but are not limited to:
- Tucker
- Chamblee
- Decatur
- Clarkston
Other Georgia Counties and Cities That Allow Backyard Chickens
- Savannah, Chatham County.
- Forest Park, Clayton County
- Woodstock, Cherokee County
- Henry County
- Augusta, Richmond County
- Hall County
- Paulding County
- Bibb County
- Columbia County
- Clarke County
- Carroll County
- Fayette County
- Newton County
- Bartow County
- Whitfield County
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