Animal Ordinances in Stonecrest, GA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Stonecrest, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Stonecrest allows backyard hens on lots of at least 10,000 square feet at one hen per 2,000 square feet, bans roosters outright, and requires 20-foot setbacks. Larger livestock like horses and cows need at least two fenced acres, and pigs and hogs are banned except pot-bellied pigs.
Stonecrest Backyard Chickens and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Zoning Ordinance § 4.2.7(E), (I)
E.Livestock. ... 2.Livestock shall only be permitted on a lot containing two or more acres, and there shall be no more than two animals, per fenced acre for horses, llamas, mules, asses, cows or large aviary such as emus; and no more than three animals per fenced acre for sheep or goats. ... 8.Pigs and hogs are prohibited, except pot-bellied pigs. Pot-bellied pigs shall be treated as livestock,...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Stonecrest, City Code Sec. 5-4 requires every animal to be leashed or under direct control anytime it leaves the owner's property, and Sec. 5-5 makes it unlawful to let an animal run at large on streets, in parks, or on another person's property without permission. Only city-designated off-leash park areas are exempt.
Stonecrest Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Code §§ 5-4, 5-5
It shall be the duty of any person to keep an animal under restraint and control, at heel or on a leash, at all times while the animal is off the real property limits of the owner. Such areas shall not include areas of city parks that are specifically designated by appropriate signage and fencing as off leash areas. In the absence of such signage and fencing, an animal must be under restraint a...
Breed Restrictions
The City of Stonecrest regulates dangerous and vicious animals by individual court classification rather than by breed. City Code Sec. 5-10 lets the police chief seek a Municipal Court or DeKalb County Magistrate Court hearing to classify any animal as dangerous or vicious based on its documented conduct, triggering registration, confinement and insurance rules.
Stonecrest Dangerous & Vicious Animal Rules
Significant RestrictionsStonecrest Code § 5-10
Pursuant to the City's Charter, section 1.03(b)(1), if the police chief learns of the existence of a dangerous animal or vicious animal, the police chief, or his designee, which may include county animal control officers, shall then cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner of the animal to appear before a judge of the City of Stonecrest Municipal Court or DeKalb County Magistrate Court,...
Beekeeping
Stonecrest's zoning code lets residents keep bees but caps density at two apiary colonies per one-quarter acre and requires a ten-foot setback from every property line. Hives must sit in the side or rear yard when a principal building exists on the lot.
Stonecrest Beekeeping and Apiary Rules
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Zoning Ordinance § 4.2.7(J)
J.Beekeeping.1.No more than two apiary colonies are allowed per one-quarter acre.2.Apiary colonies must be setback from all property lines a minimum of ten feet.3.Apiary colonies must be located in the side or rear yard if a principal building exists.4.Apiary colonies must be maintained responsibly with adequate space and management techniques to prevent overcrowding and swarming.5.In any insta...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Stonecrest, City Code Sec. 5-15 bars anyone from owning, keeping or housing a 'hazardous animal,' a category Sec. 5-1 defines to include pit vipers, coral snakes, poisonous spiders, large reptiles, alligators, crocodiles and large constricting snakes over ten feet, unless the city manager gives prior written approval.
Stonecrest Hazardous Animal Permit Rule
Heavy RestrictionsStonecrest Code §§ 5-1, 5-15
Hazardous animal means an animal that may be harmful to humans or other animals by virtue of its ability to produce poison or, due to its size and feeding habits, could prey on humans as a food source. Hazardous animals include, but are not limited to, pit vipers (genus Crotalidae), coral snakes (genus Micrurus), poisonous spiders, frogs, large reptiles, Nile monitors, caiman, alligators, croco...
Pet Limits
The City of Stonecrest's Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.2.11.F caps household pets in residential districts at three per lot of two acres or less. Larger lots get one extra pet per additional acre, up to a ten-pet maximum, and litters under six months old do not count toward the limit.
Stonecrest Household Pet Limit Per Lot
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Zoning Ordinance § 4.2.11.F
F.Household pets. Except as is otherwise herein provided, in any residential district within the city a person may keep not more than three household pets on each lot which is two acres or less in size. On any lot exceeding two acres in size, a person may keep one additional household pet for each additional acre above two acres up to a maximum of ten household pets. Litters of animals of not m...
Cat Rules
In the City of Stonecrest, City Code Sec. 5-25(d) creates a community cat program for unowned, free-roaming cats: they must be vaccinated, sterilized and ear-tipped, and once enrolled they are exempt from the chapter's registration, licensing and stray-animal provisions and cannot be treated as abandoned when returned to their capture site.
Stonecrest Community Cat Program Rules
Light RestrictionsStonecrest Code §§ 5-19(d)-(e), 5-25(d)
(d)Any stray cat without any traceable form of identification that is impounded or brought to the animal service center and deemed eligible may be transferred immediately to the community cat program.(e)Any community cat or unowned, free-roaming cat that is not healthy in the opinion of qualified animal control officers shall be impounded. No healthy community cat shall be impounded unless it:(...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
The City of Stonecrest requires sterilization in two situations: City Code Sec. 5-25(a) orders owners of a court-classified dangerous or vicious dog or cat to have it sterilized within 30 days of the final order, and Sec. 5-25(b) requires dogs and cats adopted from the city to be sterilized on set timelines.
Stonecrest Mandatory Pet Sterilization Rule
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Code § 5-25(a)-(b)
(a)It shall be the duty of the owner of a dog or cat declared to be a classified animal by a court of competent jurisdiction to have the animal sterilized. Such sterilization must be performed by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction finding that the dog or cat is a classified animal.(b)It shall be the duty of the owner and/or qualified ado...
Microchipping
In the City of Stonecrest, City Code Sec. 5-9 requires permanent microchip identification only for animal owners already convicted of abandonment, cruelty, or neglect, or for owners of a dangerous or vicious 'classified animal.' There is no blanket microchip mandate for ordinary pets, but classified-animal owners must register the chip with the manufacturer and the police department.
Stonecrest Microchip ID Requirement
Light RestrictionsStonecrest Code § 5-9
It shall be the duty of every animal owner who has been convicted, in a court of competent jurisdiction, of abandonment, cruelty or neglect of an animal, or who owns a classified animal, to have the animal permanently identified by insertion of a microchip by a licensed veterinarian. Said chip must be registered with the chip parent company and the police department.
Pet Groomer Rules
A pet grooming shop in Stonecrest must be located and operated at least 100 feet from any residentially zoned or residentially used property under the zoning code's animal care facility standards.
Stonecrest Pet Grooming Shop Zoning Rule
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Zoning Ordinance § 4.2.11(C)
C.Pet grooming shops. Any building or enclosed structure used as a pet grooming shop shall be located and activities shall be conducted at least 100 feet from any property zoned or used for residential purposes.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics in Stonecrest must sit at least 100 feet from residentially zoned or used property, must be soundproofed and odor-proofed in shopping centers, and cannot offer outdoor runs or kennels or boarding unrelated to medical treatment.
Stonecrest Animal Hospital and Vet Clinic Zoning
Some RestrictionsStonecrest Zoning Ordinance § 4.2.11(A)
A.Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics.1.Any building or enclosed structure used as an animal hospital or veterinary clinic shall be located and the activities associated with the use shall be conducted at least 100 feet from any property zoned or used for residential purposes.2.When located within a shopping center, the use shall be adequately soundproofed and odor-proofed so as not to crea...
Looking for DeKalb County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Stonecrest city rules.
Animal Ordinances in DeKalb County →