Marietta, GA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Section 10-10-130 of the Marietta Code of Ordinances defines 'domesticated animals' as small animals permitted in the house or yard and kept for company or pleasure, expressly listing dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds, and chickens, while excluding swine, livestock, and exotic animals from that category. Subsection B then sets the numeric limit: each dwelling unit may contain a maximum of four domesticated animals, except as otherwise permitted elsewhere in the code. The cap has a built-in exception for litters and young animals, since the four-animal standard does not apply to animals less than six months of age, so a household with newborn kittens or puppies isn't automatically over the limit while they're young.

The section also closes a backyard-breeding loophole: it is not permitted to keep animals for the purpose of resale on or off the premises, meaning a household cannot use the residential exemption to run an unlicensed pet-selling operation. 12 for any zoning-based animal-keeping conditions layered on top of this citywide cap.