Acworth's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Acworth, Georgia, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Wildlife Feeding

Acworth bans feeding ducks, geese and other waterfowl in every city park and park building under Code of Ordinances § 58-3(a)(7). The rule applies citywide across all 13 designated parks, with no permit or sign requirement, and violations carry the Code's general penalty of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

Key details: Governing section: § 58-3(a)(7). Prohibited act: Feeding ducks, geese, other waterfowl. Scope: All Acworth public parks and buildings. Adopted: Ord. No. 2020-35, amended 2022-33. Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail.

Feeding ducks, geese or other waterfowl in any Acworth park or park building violates § 58-3(a)(7). Officers cite under the general penalty at § 1-11: a fine of up to $1,000.00, up to six months in jail, or up to 60 days of city labor, with each day of continued violation billed as a separate offense. Cases are heard in Acworth Municipal Court, and repeat feeding at the same location can draw cumulative daily penalties.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Acworth actively enforces its wildlife feeding requirements.

Breed Restrictions

Acworth doesn't regulate dogs by breed; Section 14-11 targets any animal, of any breed, that its own definition of 'vicious animal' fits based on what it has actually done. An owner who lets a qualifying animal go unconfined or releases it in a way likely to hurt someone faces permanent confinement or humane destruction of the animal.

Key details: Basis for classification: Behavior, not breed (§ 14-1). Required outcome: Permanent confinement or humane destruction. State overlay: Georgia Dangerous Dog Control Law, O.C.G.A. § 4-8-20. Enforcement: Acworth Police and Cobb County Animal Control. Default fine: Up to $1,000 or 6 months jail (§ 1-11).

A Section 14-11 violation doesn't carry its own posted fine; a citation falls back on the Code's general penalty in Section 1-11, up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail, but the ordinance's real teeth are non-monetary: it requires the animal itself to be permanently confined or humanely destroyed once the violation is established.

This is one of the stricter rules in Acworth's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Chickens & Livestock

Acworth allows backyard chickens, goats and miniature pigs without a permit, but Section 14-15 caps every category by size, weight and lot area. Hen counts scale from three on a lot under an acre up to twelve on lots over three acres, roosters are banned outright, and coops must sit at least ten feet from property lines and 25 feet from a neighbor's house.

Key details: Hens on 1 acre or less: 3 hens. Hens on over 3.01 acres: 12 hens maximum. Roosters: Banned at any lot size. Goat limit: 2 per property, 24 in./80 lb max. Pig limit: 2 per property, 22 in./125 lb max.

A first violation of Section 14-15 draws a citation requiring removal of any animals over the allowed count or correction of how they're housed and cared for; the section adds its own escalating consequence on top of any fine under Section 1-11, a one-year ban on keeping goats, pigs or chickens on the property after a fourth citation within 365 days.

Dog Leash Laws

Acworth requires every dog to be under an owner's immediate control at all times, on or off the owner's own property. Section 14-3 spells out exactly how: a chain, leash or tie no longer than six feet, or hands-on control through voice command close enough to prevent a violation, plus a ban on tying any animal in a street, alley or sidewalk.

Key details: Leash length: Six feet, on and off premises. Alternative to leash: Voice command control within stopping distance. Public tie-out ban: No tying animals in streets, alleys, sidewalks. Enforcement: Cobb County Animal Control under intergovernmental agreement. Default penalty: Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail (§ 1-11).

Section 14-3 carries no dedicated fine, so a citation defaults to the Code's general penalty in Section 1-11: a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or up to 60 days of public works labor, at the municipal court's discretion, with each day the animal remains unrestrained charged as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Acworth is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Acworth, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Acworth's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.