Sandy Springs, GA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Chicken/fowl setback
- 25 ft from occupied buildings
- Chicken/fowl floor area
- 4 sq ft per bird
- Hog setback
- 900 ft from occupied buildings
- Agricultural zoning
- Exempt from these limits
- General penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail
Summary
Outside agriculturally zoned land, Sandy Springs sets exact setback and floor-space minimums for keeping chickens, ducks, and other fowl or livestock: chicken coops must sit at least 25 feet from any occupied building and give each bird 4 square feet, per Code section 10-16(b).
A domestic animal or livestock shall be kept at the following minimum distances from any occupied building except the dwelling unit of the owner. (Exceptions: licensed veterinary hospitals, commercial kennels, grooming parlors and public or commercial horse facilities.) Animal / Distance (in feet): Horses, mules, asses, cows, sheep or goats 150; Hogs 900; Dogs (three or more) 25; Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters 25; Chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or similar fowl 25. Except in an area zoned for agriculture, each domestic animal or livestock shall be provided with the following average minimum floor or ground area... Chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or similar fowl 4.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 24 | Development Code: Supplement 2 | Technical Manuals: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Section 10-16(b) makes it unlawful to keep any domestic animal or livestock unless the housing is well-drained, kept free of accumulated excrement and odors, and otherwise clean and sanitary, with excrement disposed of in a manner the city manager or designee approves. " Subsection (b)(3) then sets minimum floor or ground area per animal in the enclosure: 150 square feet for horses/mules/asses/cows/sheep/goats and for hogs, 100 square feet for dogs, 4 square feet for rabbits/guinea pigs/hamsters, and 4 square feet for chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or similar fowl.
These distance and area standards do not apply in areas zoned for agriculture, and licensed veterinary hospitals, commercial kennels, grooming parlors, and public or commercial horse facilities are also exempt. The rules sit within chapter 10's nuisance article, so noncompliant coops or livestock pens can additionally be treated as a nuisance under section 10-16(a).
Violations & Fines
A violation of the chicken/livestock housing, distance, or floor-space standards in section 10-16(b) is punishable under the chapter 10 general penalty in section 10-2: a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense. The city manager or designee also enforces the chapter through impoundment and court citation under section 10-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must my chicken coop be from my neighbor's house in Sandy Springs?
How much space does each chicken need under city rules?
Do these coop rules apply on agriculturally zoned land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sandy Springs
How Sandy Springs compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Sandy Springs to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle chickens & livestock.