South Fulton, GA Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

The City of South Fulton Code of Ordinances Title 18 does not use the term 'animal hoarding' or contain a section dedicated solely to it. Instead, the conditions associated with hoarding are addressed through several provisions. Sec. 18-1004 ('Unlawful housing of domestic animals and livestock') caps dogs and cats at 10 per premises outside agricultural zones and requires that any animal housing be well-drained, free of accumulated excrement and objectionable odors, and clean and sanitary, with minimum space per animal. Sec. 18-1005 ('Abandonment') states that no person shall abandon any animal on public or private property 'or keep an animal under unsanitary conditions.' Sec. 18-3001 treats four or more dogs over four months as a kennel requiring a special permit. Animals whose safety, health, or life is in immediate danger may be impounded under Sec. 18-1010(b)(7). Serious neglect and cruelty are handled under Georgia's Animal Protection Act, O.C.G.A. Title 4, Chapter 11, which the Georgia Department of Agriculture and law enforcement administer, and aggravated cruelty can be prosecuted under O.C.G.A. 16-12-4. Together, the per-premises limit, sanitary-housing standards, abandonment/unsanitary-conditions ban, and impoundment authority give the city tools to address hoarding situations even without a hoarding-specific ordinance. These city provisions were adopted by Ord. No. 2019-007 (Sec. 18-3004 by Ord. 2020-016).