Rockdale County, GA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household pet cap
- 5 per lot, not counting litters under 6 months
- Governing section
- Code § 218-7(h)(11) and (i)
- Districts covered
- A-R, R-1, R-2, CRS, CSD, CSO, MUR, RM, WP
- Hobby kennel option
- Up to 7 animals if noncommercial
- Commercial kennels
- Require a separate special use permit
Summary
Unincorporated Rockdale County caps household pets at five per lot under Code Section 218-7(h)(11), not counting litters under six months old, a limit that carries over from the A-R district into R-1, R-2 and other residential districts under Section 218-7(i).
(h)The following accessory uses and structures, including similar uses and structures, shall be permitted in the A-R district, provided that they comply with all conditions and standards in subsections (a) through (g): ... (11)The number of household pets on a single lot shall be limited to five (not including litters under six months of age). ... (i)All residential accessory uses and structures permitted above, except for those provided in subsection (h)(9) and (10), are permitted in the R-1, R-2, CRS, CSD, CSO, MUR, RM and WP districts provided that they comply with all stated conditions and standards of subsection (a) through (g), and meet each of the following additional standards:
Full Breakdown
Section 218-7(h)(11), part of the UDO's accessory use standards for the A-R agricultural-residential district, caps the number of household pets on a single lot at five, not counting litters of animals under six months of age. Clause (h)'s lead-in lists doghouses, runs, pens, rabbit hutches, cages and similar structures as permitted accessory uses for housing those pets, but specifically excludes hobby kennels or pet boarding kennels from that category. Section 218-7(i) extends the accessory-use list in (h), except for barns and livestock quarters, into the R-1, R-2, CRS, CSD, CSO, MUR, RM and WP residential districts, carrying the five-pet cap with it.
A household that wants to keep more animals for showing, training or breeding can instead qualify as a hobby kennel, defined in Section 106 as an accessory use keeping up to seven dogs, cats or other small animals for showing, training or breeding, so long as no fee or other compensation is charged and the operation isn't commercial; anything beyond that, or any use charging money, needs the separate Kennels, Pet Boarding special use permit referenced in the Table of Permitted Uses.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than five household pets on a lot without qualifying as a hobby kennel or licensed boarding kennel violates Section 218-7, enforced as a UDO violation under Section 110-7 and punished under the county's general penalty, Section 1-11: a Magistrate Court fine of up to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both, per day of the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I have at my house in Rockdale County?
Can I keep more than five pets if I show or breed dogs?
Do I need a permit to run a dog breeding business from home?
Does the five-pet limit apply outside the A-R district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockdale County
Compare Rockdale County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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