Stonecrest, GA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot for hens
- 10,000 square feet
- Hen density
- 1 hen per 2,000 sq ft of lot
- Roosters
- Prohibited citywide
- Coop setback
- 20 ft from property line, 50 ft from other homes
- Livestock minimum lot
- 2 acres, 2 large animals/acre
- Pigs and hogs
- Prohibited except pot-bellied pigs
Summary
Stonecrest allows backyard hens on lots of at least 10,000 square feet at one hen per 2,000 square feet, bans roosters outright, and requires 20-foot setbacks. Larger livestock like horses and cows need at least two fenced acres, and pigs and hogs are banned except pot-bellied pigs.
E.Livestock. ... 2.Livestock shall only be permitted on a lot containing two or more acres, and there shall be no more than two animals, per fenced acre for horses, llamas, mules, asses, cows or large aviary such as emus; and no more than three animals per fenced acre for sheep or goats. ... 8.Pigs and hogs are prohibited, except pot-bellied pigs. Pot-bellied pigs shall be treated as livestock, and subject to the standards for sheep and goats. ... I.Keeping of chickens, pigeons.1.The minimum fenced yard area for chickens shall be 25 square feet per hen.2.Chickens and pigeons must be housed at least 20 feet from any property line, and 50 feet from any residence other than the owner's.3.Any structure housing chickens and pigeons must be located in the rear yard if a principal building exists.4.The minimum lot size for the keeping of chickens or pigeons is 10,000 square feet. ... 5.No roosters are allowed.6.The maximum number of hens shall be one hen per 2,000 square feet of lot size.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 4.2.7 of the Stonecrest Zoning Ordinance splits animal-keeping into livestock (subsection E) and chickens/pigeons (subsection I). Livestock is defined for animals over 12 months old and is only permitted on lots of two or more acres, capped at two animals per fenced acre for horses, llamas, mules, asses, cows or large aviary birds like emus, and three animals per fenced acre for sheep or goats. Pigs and hogs are prohibited outright, with a single carve-out for pot-bellied pigs, which are then held to the same density standard as sheep and goats.
For chickens and pigeons, the minimum lot size is 10,000 square feet, and the fenced yard must provide at least 25 square feet per hen. Coops must sit at least 20 feet from any property line and 50 feet from any residence other than the owner's, and must be located in the rear yard if a principal building exists on the lot. Hen density is capped at one hen per 2,000 square feet of lot size, no roosters are allowed anywhere in the city, and each coop must provide at least four square feet of floor space per bird over four months old (one square foot for Bantams).
Chickens may only be kept as pets or for egg production, not for slaughter, and must be kept sanitary and non-nuisance under the general livestock standards.
Violations & Fines
Violations of the density, setback, or no-rooster standards are handled as zoning code enforcement matters by Planning and Zoning/Community Development, which can require abatement of excess animals or non-conforming structures; DeKalb County Animal Control handles at-large or cruelty complaints since animal control services are provided by the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens on my property in Stonecrest?
Can I keep a horse or cow in Stonecrest?
Are pigs allowed as livestock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stonecrest
How Stonecrest compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Stonecrest to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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