Fulton County, GA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis for classification
- Behavior, not breed
- Notice deadline
- Mailed within 72 hours
- Appeal window
- 7 days to request hearing
- Decision authority
- Dog control officer + hearing board
Summary
Fulton County doesn't ban dog breeds by name: animal control investigates bite and aggression reports and can formally classify a dog as dangerous or vicious after mailed notice and a hearing, triggering strict confinement and registration duties.
(a)Upon receiving a report of a dog believed to be subject to classification as a dangerous dog or vicious dog within a dog control officer's jurisdiction, the dog control officer shall make such investigation necessary to determine whether such dog is subject to classification as a dangerous dog or vicious dog.(b)When a dog control officer determines that a dog is subject to classification as a dangerous dog or vicious dog, the dog control officer shall mail a dated notice to the dog's owner within 72 hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 57).
Full Breakdown
Under Fulton County Code § 34-282, a dog control officer who receives a report investigates whether a dog should be classified dangerous or vicious. If classified, the officer must mail the owner dated notice within 72 hours, and the owner has seven days to request a hearing before the animal control hearing board or probate court. There is no breed list: classification turns on the dog's conduct, and an owner who misses the deadline is bound by the officer's determination.
Violations & Fines
Failing to request a hearing within seven days locks in the classification; owners then face the confinement, insurance and registration duties of §§ 34-281 and 34-283, enforced as misdemeanors under § 34-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fulton County ban pit bulls or other breeds?
How do I appeal a dangerous dog classification?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fulton County
How Fulton County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Fulton County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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