Gwinnett County, GA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 10,500 square feet
- Coop setback
- 20 ft from property line
- Roosters
- Prohibited, no variance
- Pen area
- 10 sq ft per chicken
- Use
- Pets or eggs only, no slaughter
Summary
In non-agricultural residential zoning districts of unincorporated Gwinnett County, keeping chickens requires a 10,500-square-foot lot minimum, a secure pen with setbacks, and a flat ban on roosters.
In non-agricultural residential zoning districts, the keeping of chickens for personal pleasure or utility on a parcel which contains the dwelling of the owner is permitted, subject to the following requirements:a.The minimum lot size for the keeping of chickens shall be ten thousand five hundred (10,500) square feet.b.Chickens must be kept securely in an enclosed yard or 6-sided pen at all times.c.Minimum pen area for chickens shall be ten (10) square feet per chicken.d.Chickens must be housed at least twenty (20) feet from any property line, and fifty (50) feet from any residence on an adjoining parcel.e.Any structure housing chickens must be located in the rear yard.f.The keeping of roosters shall be a prohibited use, for which a variance is not authorized.g.The maximum number of chickens shall be as follows: Lots 10,500 square feet to 12,499 square feet: maximum of 3 chickens; lots 12,500 square feet to 24,999 square feet: maximum of 5 chickens; lots 25,000 square feet to 39,999 square feet: maximum of 8 chickens; lots of 40,000 square feet to 2.99 acres: maximum of 10 chickens; lots 3 acres or larger: no maximum.h.Each coop shall have at least four (4) square feet of floor space per chicken over four (4) months old.i.Chickens are only permitted as pets or for egg laying production; chickens cannot be kept for slaughter or sale.j.Chickens must be kept under sanitary conditions and shall not be a public nuisance as defined by State law.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Gwinnett's Unified Development Ordinance lets homeowners in non-agricultural residential districts keep chickens for personal pleasure or egg production if the lot is at least 10,500 square feet. Chickens must stay in a securely enclosed yard or six-sided pen with at least ten square feet per bird and four square feet of coop floor space per bird over four months old, and the coop must sit at least 20 feet from any property line and 50 feet from a neighboring residence, in the rear yard. Lot size caps how many chickens are allowed, from three up to no limit on lots of three acres or more. Roosters are prohibited outright, with no variance available, and slaughter or sale of the birds isn't allowed.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens outside these zoning standards, or keeping a rooster, is a UDO violation subject to the county's zoning enforcement and penalty process; no variance is available for the rooster ban.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a lot do I need to keep chickens in unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Can I keep a rooster in unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
How Gwinnett County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Gwinnett County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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