Animal Ordinances in Bartow County, GA (2026)
11 rules for unincorporated Bartow County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Bartow County scales livestock and chicken limits to lot size: up to eight livestock or 20 chickens on two-to-ten acre lots, eight hens (no roosters) on one-to-two acre residential lots, and no livestock at all under one acre, per Bartow County Code § 14-17(d).
Bartow County Backyard Chickens and Livestock
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-17(d)
(d)Livestock. The following restrictions apply to the maximum number of livestock animals that may be kept on any property based on the area of the lot. ... (2)Larger than two acres but equal to or less than ten acres. On property that is larger than two acres but equal to or less than ten acres, limited numbers of livestock animals are permitted. No more than eight livestock animals total shal...
Dog Leash Laws
Unincorporated Bartow County requires every dog (cats are exempt) to be under secure control at all times, on or off its owner's property. Off premises, secure control means the dog is on a leash, chain or tie held by a competent person, safely confined in a vehicle, or enclosed with the property owner's permission, per Bartow County Code § 14-14.
Bartow County Dog Leash and Control Law
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-14
(a)(1)Control of animals. Every animal shall be restrained and controlled so as to prevent it from molesting passersby, chasing vehicles, or attacking persons or other animals. It shall be a violation of this section for the owner of an animal, or for the person having possession of, responsibility for, or custody of an animal, to not have the animal under secure control whether on the premises...
Breed Restrictions
Bartow County has no breed-specific ban; instead it classifies individual dogs as "dangerous" or "vicious" based on documented bites or attacks under Bartow County Code § 14-66. A classified dog must be registered and confined in a secure enclosure, and a vicious dog must be muzzled and insured whenever off the owner's property.
Bartow County Dangerous Dog Classification
Significant RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-66(a)
(a)Classification levels. "Classified dog" means any dog that has been classified as either a dangerous or vicious dog pursuant to this article. Classifications are as follows:(1)Dangerous dog. Any dog that:a.Causes a substantial puncture of a person's skin by teeth without causing serious injury (see section 14-13); provided, however, that a nip, scratch, or abrasion shall not be sufficient to...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Bartow County bans owning, harboring or letting run at large any exotic or wild animal without written permission from the director of animal control, and flatly bans keeping wild carnivores such as tigers, wolves, bears, foxes and raccoons as pets under any circumstances, per Bartow County Code § 14-15.
Bartow County Exotic and Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-15
(a)Exotic or wild animals unlawful. It shall be unlawful for anyone to own, harbor, or permit at large any exotic animal or wild animal within the unincorporated areas of Bartow County without the written permission of the director of animal control who may impose upon the owner reasonable conditions of confinement to assure the protection and safety of the general public. ... (b)Wild carnivore...
Pet Limits
Unincorporated Bartow County caps household pets by lot size: no more than three dogs on a one-acre-or-smaller lot, six dogs on one-to-two acre lots, and six cats on any lot of two acres or less, with numeric limits lifted on larger acreage, under Bartow County Code § 14-17(a)-(b).
Bartow County Dog and Cat Ownership Limits
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-17(a)-(b)
(a)Dogs. The following restrictions apply to the maximum number of dogs that may be possessed or kept on any residential property, based on the area of the lot. ... (2)Larger than one acre but equal to or less than two acres. On any residential property that is larger than one acre, but equal to or less than two acres, regardless of the designated zoning of said property, it shall be unlawful t...
Cat Rules
Unincorporated Bartow County exempts trap-neuter-vaccinate-return community cats from the secure-control law, the public nuisance rule, and numeric cat limits, so long as the cat is not diseased, aggressive or otherwise a genuine nuisance, under Bartow County Code § 14-44.
Bartow County Community Cat (TNR) Program
Light RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-44
(a)Purpose. Research and experience have shown that achieving a "no-kill" status as a community requires a variety of strategies, and that community cats pose unique challenges. Community cat populations can be reduced by an effective TNR program, calling for cats to be trapped, sterilized, vaccinated and returned to the original outside home. ... (b)The county seeks to cooperate with non-profi...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Unincorporated Bartow County requires every sexually mature dog or cat placed for adoption by the county animal shelter or a humane society to be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the adoption. The rule reaches only shelter and humane-society adoptions, not privately owned or purchased pets, and adopters sign a written sterilization agreement at pickup.
Bartow County Spay/Neuter Rule for Adopted Pets
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-87(a), (c)
(a)Sterilization required. Every sexually mature dog or cat placed for adoption by the animal shelter or a humane society shall be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the adoption. ... (c)Written agreement. ... Failure to comply with this agreement shall be a violation for each day beyond 30.
Microchipping
Unincorporated Bartow County requires a scannable microchip only for dogs classified as vicious under the county's dangerous-dog ordinance, implanted between the shoulder blades before Animal Control issues the required certificate of registration. There is no county-wide microchipping mandate for ordinary pet dogs or cats.
Bartow County Microchip Rule for Vicious Dogs
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-67(d)(5)
(d)Vicious dog. A certificate of registration for a vicious dog shall be issued if the dog control officer determines that the following requirements have been met: ... (5)Microchip identification. A microchip containing an identification number and capable of being scanned has been injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of the dog.
Pet Store Rules
Unincorporated Bartow County does not ban retail sale of dogs and cats or require pet stores to be adoption-only. Instead, anyone who breeds more than one litter per household per year, or who operates as a pet dealer, kennel, stable or private animal shelter, must hold a valid Georgia Department of Agriculture license and keep the premises clean and sanitary.
Bartow County Pet Dealer Licensing Requirement
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 14-18(a), (c)-(e)
Any more than one litter per household per year shall make such person a pet dealer. ... (c)Operations requiring licensing. It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a pet dealer or operate a kennel, stable or private animal shelter unless such person has a valid license issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 4-11-1 et seq., and applicable state regulations....
Pet Groomer Rules
Unincorporated Bartow County bars animal grooming and similar pet-related businesses from operating as a home occupation on any residential lot under five acres. A boarding kennel needs at least 15 acres and county conditional-use approval before it can operate at all. The rule sits in the zoning ordinance's home-occupation section, not a separate animal-control chapter.
Home Pet Grooming Limited by Lot Size
Significant RestrictionsBartow County Zoning Ordinance § 6.2.I.1
I.Occupations which are not allowed (prohibited). The following uses are examples of home occupations which are not allowed:1)Animal grooming and similar pet related businesses on lots less than five acres. Kennels require a minimum of 15 acres and require conditional use approval.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Unincorporated Bartow County allows veterinary clinics, kennels and animal hospitals as a permitted use in the C-1 general business district under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 7.11.8(G), but only if no building, pen or enclosure sits closer than 50 feet to any property line. The setback applies to the animal-holding structures themselves, not just the principal building.
Bartow County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rule
Some RestrictionsBartow County Zoning Ordinance § 7.11.8(G)
(G)Veterinary clinics, kennels, and/or animal hospitals, provided no part of any building, structure, pen, or enclosure is located closer than fifty (50) feet to any property line.
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