Horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and similar livestock are 'farm animals' under Clayton County zoning. A 'farm' means at least three acres, so livestock is limited to agricultural-zoned parcels, not typical residential lots in this built-up metro county.
Clayton County's Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A) defines 'farm animals' to include horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, miniature horses and donkeys, camels, emu, ostrich, llamas, alpacas, and similar animals, and defines a 'farm' as an area of at least three acres used for agricultural operations or the production of livestock and poultry. Livestock keeping is therefore controlled by the parcel's zoning district and the three-acre threshold rather than by a per-head cap in the animal chapter. Because Clayton County is densely developed, most residential lots cannot meet the farm definition, so large livestock is generally not permitted on standard suburban lots. Nuisance conditions (odor, waste, escape) are separately abatable, and cities within the county apply their own zoning.
Keeping livestock where zoning does not permit it is a zoning violation enforced by Community Development / code enforcement, generally abated by citation and an order to remove the animals; nuisance conditions may draw additional enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
clayton-county-ga
Backyard composting is allowed in Clayton County; no ordinance bans home compost piles. A pile must be maintained so it does not become rubbish or a nuisance...
clayton-county-ga
Clayton County has no ordinance specifically permitting or banning artificial turf on residential lots. Its use is governed by general zoning, impervious-sur...
clayton-county-ga
Clayton County has no ordinance banning native or drought-tolerant landscaping. Its Tree Protection Ordinance actively recommends native species, though plan...
clayton-county-ga
Rainwater harvesting is allowed in Clayton County. No county ordinance bans rain barrels or cisterns, and Georgia's watering rules exempt captured stormwater...
clayton-county-ga
Under Georgia's Water Stewardship Act, landscape watering across Clayton County is allowed daily but only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. The Clayton County Water...
clayton-county-ga
Clayton County's Quality of Life Code requires unincorporated properties to be kept free of rubbish and uncut vegetation. Grass and weeds over ten inches are...
See how Clayton County's livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.