Chatham County's animal code forbids livestock and domestic fowl from running at large. Keeping backyard chickens and small livestock in the unincorporated county is governed by the Chatham County-Savannah zoning ordinance, which a 2018 amendment opened to limited backyard flocks.
Chatham County Code §22-103(a) makes it unlawful for the owner of any livestock or domestic fowl to permit them to run at large within the county or to keep them in any street or public place. The county's own Chapter 22 does not cap how many chickens you may keep at home; that is set by the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission's unified zoning ordinance (NewZO). A 2018 MPC-recommended amendment allowed unincorporated homeowners to keep limited chickens, bees, and small livestock regardless of zoning class, with larger flocks and roosters generally allowed on bigger rural lots. Check your parcel's zoning district and any HOA rules before adding hens.
Letting fowl or livestock run at large is enforceable by Animal Services with a fine of $100 to $1,000 per count (§22-106); zoning-based flock limits are enforced by the MPC/county code compliance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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