Newton County, GA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Newton County Animal Control
- Certificate
- Nontransferable, one per household, owner 18+
- Buffer distance
- 200 yards from schools, parks, churches
- Vicious dog limit
- One per owner
- Insurance (vicious dog)
- $50,000 minimum liability coverage
- 2nd-offense fine (vicious)
- $500 minimum
- Appeal window
- 15 days to request hearing
Summary
Newton County does not ban dog breeds; instead it classifies individual dogs as dangerous or vicious after an incident. Animal control issues a nontransferable registration certificate, and owners must meet enclosure, signage, sterilization, microchipping and insurance conditions before keeping the dog in the unincorporated county.
It is unlawful to have a dangerous or vicious dog without a registered dog certificate. ... No owner may keep a dangerous or vicious dog within 200 yards of any aquatic center, church, convenience store, daycare, grocery store, hospital, human society, library, nursing home, park, playground, restaurant, school, skilled nursing unit, or walking trail, due in part to these being frequented by children and senior citizens, and in some cases, food present. No certificate shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of two or more violations of this article. No person shall own more than one vicious dog. ... c.In addition, that the dog has been surgically sterilized and microchipped.
Full Breakdown
Newton County Animal Control administers Article VII of the county animal ordinance (Newton County Code § 8-160) for dogs in unincorporated Newton County. When animal control classifies a dog as dangerous or vicious after investigating a complaint, it must mail the owner written notice within 72 hours, summarizing the findings and stating that the owner has 15 days to request a hearing before the animal control board. 9. Keeping a dangerous or vicious dog without a registered dog certificate is unlawful. Certificates are nontransferable, limited to one per household, and unavailable to anyone under 18, anyone convicted of two or more article violations, or, for vicious dogs, anyone convicted of specified violent, dog-fighting, cruelty or drug-trafficking felonies.
No owner may keep such a dog within 200 yards of schools, parks, churches, daycares, hospitals, nursing homes or similar places, and no person may own more than one vicious dog. 00 in liability insurance. Dangerous dogs outside the enclosure must be on a leash no longer than six feet under a responsible handler; vicious dogs must additionally be muzzled. Certificates renew annually, and a dog found to have caused serious injury to a person more than once must be euthanized.
Violations & Fines
Violating this article on a vicious dog draws a fine of at least $500.00 for a second conviction and at least $750.00 for later convictions; for a dangerous dog the minimums are $250.00 and $400.00. If a repeat violator's dog attacks or bites a person, the fine rises to at least $1,000.00 or imprisonment, or both, and the dog is impounded, quarantined and destroyed. Refusing to surrender a confiscated dog is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Newton County ban specific dog breeds?
How close to a school can I keep a registered dangerous dog?
What happens if my dog is classified dangerous and I disagree?
Can I own more than one vicious dog in Newton County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newton County
How Newton County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Newton County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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