Animal Ordinances in Augusta-Richmond County, GA (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Augusta-Richmond County bans chickens, geese, ducks and other fowl from running loose on streets or in parks, and requires Board of Health permission for stock pens keeping cattle, hogs, sheep or goats inside the Urban Services District.
Augusta-Richmond Chicken and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, §§ 4-1-33, 4-1-51, 4-1-52
Sec. 4-1-33: "It shall be unlawful for chickens, geese, ducks or other fowl to run at large upon the streets or in the confines of public or private parks of Augusta-Richmond County." Sec. 4-1-51: "It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, keep or maintain any stock pen...for stock, cattle, hogs, sheep or goats...in the Urban Services District, except by the permission and under the dir...
Dog Leash Laws
Augusta-Richmond County requires every dog on a public street to be leashed. Code Sec. 4-1-22 makes it unlawful for a dog to be 'upon the public streets, except on a leash and accompanied by an individual, or except when enclosed within a vehicle, cage, carton, crate, box or other suitable container to prevent escape,' backed by a separate at-large ban and impoundment for strays.
Augusta-Richmond County Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, Sec. 4-1-22
It shall be unlawful for any dog to be upon the public streets, except on a leash and accompanied by an individual, or except when enclosed within a vehicle, cage, carton, crate, box or other suitable container to prevent escape.
Breed Restrictions
Augusta-Richmond County classifies dogs as dangerous or vicious based on behavior, not breed, requiring registration, a secure enclosure, warning signs, microchipping, and liability insurance for vicious dogs, with certificates renewed annually for a $100 fee.
Augusta-Richmond County Vicious & Dangerous Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, § 4-1-9
It shall be unlawful for an owner to have or possess within this state a vicious or dangerous dog without a certificate of registration issued in accordance with the provisions of this Code... The owner maintains and can provide proof of ... liability insurance in the amount of at least ($50,000.00)... The annual registration fee shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
Cat Rules
Augusta-Richmond County requires cat owners keep their cats under control and off other people's property, but the county does not sanction outdoor Trap-Neuter-Return colonies and won't pursue free-roaming cats without a complaint.
Augusta-Richmond County Cat Control and TNR Policy
Some RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, § 4-1-21(a), (e)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any animal to be out of control and/or unattended off the premises of its owner, and/or upon the premises of another person without the permission of such other person. ... (e) Augusta, Georgia does not sanction Trap-Neuter-Return/TNR programs at this time, in the interest of reducing the outside cat population and the admission and euthanasia rates at the municipal...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Augusta-Richmond County requires animal shelters, humane societies, and animal refuges to sterilize every dog and cat before adoption, or secure a signed veterinarian agreement guaranteeing sterilization within 30 days of acquisition.
Augusta-Richmond County Shelter Pet Sterilization
Some RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, Ch. 1, § 4-1-72
Any public or private animal shelter, animal control agency operated by a political subdivision of this state, humane society, or public or private animal refuse shall make provisions for the sterilization of all dogs or cats acquired from such shelter, agency, society, or refuge by: (1) Providing sterilization by a licensed veterinarian before relinquishing custody of the animal; or (2) Enteri...
Microchipping
Augusta-Richmond County requires microchipping before a dangerous or vicious dog can be issued a certificate of registration, plus warning signs and a secure enclosure under the county's dangerous dog law.
Augusta-Richmond County vicious dog microchipping
Some RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, Sec. 4-1-9(b)(3)
A microchip containing an identification number and capable of being scanned has been injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of the dangerous or vicious dog;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Augusta-Richmond County allows veterinary clinics as a permitted use in B-1 Neighborhood Business zones, but bars any outside kennels on the property.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Augusta-Richmond County
Some RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 8, App. B (Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance), Sec. 21-1(b)(29)
The following uses are authorized in a B-1 Zone: ... (29) Veterinarian Clinic (no outside kennels allowed)
Bird Protection
Augusta-Richmond County has declared the entire Urban Services District, the area matching the former City of Augusta's boundaries as of December 31, 1995, a bird sanctuary. Killing, maiming or injuring any wild or migratory bird there is unlawful, and trapping birds or robbing nests in county cemeteries or around the waterworks is separately banned under Code § 4-1-32.
Augusta-Richmond County Bird Sanctuary Law
Heavy RestrictionsAugusta-Richmond County Code, Tit. 4, Ch. 1, §§ 4-1-30–4-1-32
Sec. 4-1-30. - Urban Services District declared bird sanctuary. The territory within the Urban Services District is hereby declared to be a bird sanctuary. Sec. 4-1-31. - Killing, etc., wild or migratory birds. It shall be unlawful for any person to maim, kill or in any manner injure any wild or migratory bird within the Urban Services District. Sec. 4-1-32. - Trapping wild birds; robbing nests...
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