Houston County, GA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Article III, "Responsible Dog Ownership," defines a "dangerous dog" at Sec. 10-101 as one that causes a substantial skin puncture without serious injury, aggressively attacks so as to create a reasonable belief of imminent serious injury, or kills a pet animal off the owner's property, while a "vicious animal" is one that inflicts serious injury or has a second qualifying attack after a prior classification. Under Sec. 00 annual fee, must microchip the animal and prove it within five business days, sterilize it within 30 days, keep current rabies vaccination, post warning signs at the enclosure and property entrance, and carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 for a dangerous dog or $100,000 for a vicious dog.

No owner may keep a classified animal within 200 yards of a school, church, daycare, park, playground, hospital, nursing home or similar use, and no person may own more than one classified animal. Sec. 10-108 requires that outside the enclosure, a classified dog be on a leash under four feet (no flexi-leashes), and a dangerous or vicious dog must additionally wear a wire basket muzzle. A dog control officer investigates and notifies the owner by mail within 72 hours of a classification determination under Sec.

10-105, and the owner has five business days to request a hearing before the county's animal control board, created jointly with Warner Robins, Centerville and Perry under Sec. 10-104. Confiscated animals not brought into compliance within 14 days go to a shelter or are euthanized under Sec. 10-109.