South Fulton, GA Animal Ordinances: Beekeeping (2026)

The City of South Fulton's Title 18 (Animal Control) does not address honeybees or beekeeping; bees are not within its definitions of domestic animal, livestock, wildlife, or exotic animal. Beekeeping in Georgia is governed primarily by state law. O.C.G.A. 2-14-41.1 ('Prohibition against restriction of honeybee production or maintenance') provides: 'No county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt or continue in effect any ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution prohibiting, impeding, or restricting the establishment or maintenance of honeybees in hives.' The same section adds, 'This Code section shall not be construed to restrict the zoning authority of county or municipal governments.' This means South Fulton cannot outright ban backyard beekeeping, but it - like other Georgia jurisdictions - may regulate hive placement through its zoning code (for example, lot-size, setback, or location standards), and apiaries remain subject to the state's Georgia Bee Law and the Georgia Department of Agriculture's apiary program. Beekeepers should verify any zoning-based placement requirements for their district with the South Fulton Planning & Zoning Department before establishing hives.