Animal Ordinances in Roswell, GA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Roswell or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Roswell has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Dog Leash Laws

Roswell, Georgia bans dogs from running at large on streets or on another person's property without permission; off-property, owners must keep dogs on a leash or otherwise under physical control.

Key details: Running at large: Prohibited on streets and others' property. Off-property control: Leash or physical restraint required. Cats: Expressly exempt from at-large rule. Penalty: Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail. Enforcement: City code and Fulton County Animal Control.

Violating the leash/at-large rule is a misdemeanor under § 8.1.26, punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or up to 60 days in jail; each day is a separate offense.

Cat Rules

Roswell, Georgia requires every cat over four months old to be licensed and vaccinated through Fulton County, but the city's leash law expressly exempts cats: § 8.1.9 lets cats roam free while dogs must stay restrained. Licensing, vaccination and nuisance rules under §§ 8.1.4 and 8.1.16 still apply to every owner.

Key details: Governing sections: §§ 8.1.4, 8.1.9, 8.1.16. License required: Cats over 4 months, via Fulton County. New-to-city deadline: 14 days to license and vaccinate. At-large law: Does not apply to cats. Unlicensed/nuisance penalty: Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail.

Failing to license or vaccinate a cat, or letting an unvaccinated cat become a public nuisance, is a misdemeanor under § 8.1.26: a fine of up to $500.00 and up to sixty days in jail, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. An impounded cat is held at the pound and, if unclaimed within three days, may be disposed of or offered for adoption; redemption requires paying the license, vaccination, impoundment and boarding fees set under § 8.1.24.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Roswell gives residents more flexibility on cat rules.

Chickens & Livestock

Roswell allows backyard poultry on a sliding scale tied to lot size, bans roosters outright, and requires two acres minimum before livestock like goats or horses may be kept.

Key details: Poultry cap: 6 birds under 1 acre. Roosters: Expressly prohibited citywide. Livestock minimum: 2-acre lot required. Setback: 25 ft from neighbor's home.

Keeping poultry beyond the lot-size cap, housing a rooster, or raising livestock on under 2 acres violates UDC §§ 9.7.22 and 9.7.14 and is a zoning violation.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Roswell's UDC regulates veterinary clinics and animal hospitals as 'Animal Care' uses, requiring fenced exercise runs, a residential buffer, no overnight outdoor animals, and 150-foot setbacks in large-lot districts.

Key details: Covered facilities: Vet clinics, animal hospitals, pet clinics. Overnight hours: No animals outdoors 11 PM-6 AM. Exercise areas: Must be fenced for confinement. Large-lot setback: 150 feet in AG-43, RS-87, RS-30. Residential buffer: Required next to ground-floor homes.

Skipping fencing on outdoor exercise runs, keeping animals outside between 11 PM and 6 AM, or building an animal facility within 150 feet of a lot line in AG-43, RS-87 or RS-30 violates UDC Sec. 9.5.8(C).

Exotic Pets

Roswell, Georgia requires anyone who owns, keeps or harbors a wildlife or exotic animal to hold every state and federal permit the species requires, under City Code § 8.1.5. The city doesn't license exotic pets itself; a missing state or federal permit is treated as a Roswell code violation, punishable under the animal control article's penalties.

Key details: Governing section: § 8.1.5. Enforcing agency: Fulton County Health Dept / Roswell code enforcement. First offense: Fine up to $500, jail up to 60 days. Second offense: Up to 2-year companion animal ban. Definition: Any animal not indigenous to Georgia.

Keeping a wild or exotic animal without the required state or federal permit is a misdemeanor under § 8.1.26: up to a $500.00 fine and 60 days in jail for a first offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation. A second conviction can trigger loss of the right to keep any companion animal in Roswell for up to two years under § 8.1.27, and any animal seized in the process is subject to impoundment fees under § 8.1.24.

Wildlife Feeding

Roswell prohibits feeding any fowl within its park system or historic sites at any time, including geese and ducks along the Chattahoochee River parks, with fines up to $250 per violation.

Key details: Applies to: All parks, trails and historic sites. Covers: Fowl only (ducks, geese, birds). Penalty: $25–$250 fine per violation. Extra consequence: Eviction, criminal trespass warning.

Feeding ducks, geese, or other fowl anywhere in a Roswell park or historic site; misdemeanor, $25–$250 fine, possible eviction and criminal trespass warning.

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

Breed Restrictions

Roswell has no breed-specific dog ban; it instead classifies individual dogs as vicious, dangerous, or potentially dangerous based on behavior, then requires confinement, warning signage, leashing, and registration.

Key details: Breed restrictions: None: classification is behavior-based. Classification: Vicious, dangerous, or potentially dangerous. Public leash: 6-foot max, muzzled when required. Liability coverage: $15,000 policy or bond required. Registration: Annual, via Fulton County Animal Control.

Confinement or restraint failures are misdemeanors under § 8.1.26; potentially-dangerous-dog violations carry escalating fines from $150, and dangerous-dog violations from $500, up to a high-and-aggravated misdemeanor.

Compared to other cities, Roswell takes a harder line on breed restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Roswell is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Roswell, 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 Roswell's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.