Animal Ordinances in Clayton County, GA (2026)
11 rules for unincorporated Clayton County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and similar livestock are 'farm animals' under Clayton County zoning. A 'farm' means at least three acres, so livestock is limited to agricultural-zoned parcels, not typical residential lots in this built-up metro county.
Clayton County Livestock Requires Farm/Ag Zoning (3 Acres)
Some RestrictionsClayton County Zoning Ordinance, App. A (Definitions)
Farm animals include, but are not limited to, horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, mules, donkeys, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, camels, emu, ostrich, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, mink, fox, buffalo, chickens, turkeys, quail, pheasants, and other animals or fowl of similar characteristics.
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Clayton County, a dog off its owner's property must be leashed and under the direct control of a person able to restrain it. Confinement by fence, pen, cage, trolley, or secure enclosure counts as 'under control' on the premises.
Clayton County Dog Leash & 'Under Control' Rule (Sec. 14-3)
Heavy RestrictionsClayton County Code Sec. 14-3
Under control means any animal shall be considered under control if it is confined by fence, pen, cage, trolley system, or secure enclosure on the premises of its owner or is secured by a leash when not confined or off the premises of the owner.
Breed Restrictions
Clayton County has no breed-specific dog ban. Dangerous and vicious dogs are regulated by behavior under Georgia's Responsible Dog Ownership Law (O.C.G.A. 4-8-21) and the county's Article VI, which requires secure confinement, a muzzle, and a four-foot leash off the premises.
Clayton County: No Breed Ban, Dangerous-Dog Control (Sec. 14-146)
Few RestrictionsClayton County Code Sec. 14-146
Tethering with a wire, rope, leash, chain or any other type of leader as the sole means of confinement of a vicious dog is not permitted... the dog shall be muzzled and on a collar and leash of sufficient strength to restrain the vicious dog and such leash shall not exceed four feet in length.
Exotic Pets
Clayton County Code Chapter 14, Article III (Wild and Exotic Animals) prohibits keeping listed wild and exotic species, including primates, big cats, wolves, bears, venomous and constrictor reptiles, and others. Georgia also requires a state wild-animal license from the DNR.
Clayton County Bans Wild & Exotic Animals (Ch. 14, Art. III)
Heavy RestrictionsClayton County Code Ch. 14, Art. III
Wild and exotic animals include any monkey or other nonhuman primate, raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, ferret, bear, wild rabbit, wild rodent and reptiles, including crocodiles, alligators, snakes, caiman and gavials, and any other animal designated by the animal control unit.
Pet Limits
Clayton County treats a household with more than five dogs or five cats (or a combination of five) over four months old as a 'private kennel.' Keeping animals above that threshold moves the property into kennel regulation rather than ordinary pet keeping.
Clayton County: More Than 5 Dogs/Cats = Private Kennel (Sec. 14-3)
Some RestrictionsClayton County Code Sec. 14-3
Private kennel means any person, excluding commercial kennels, pet shops and veterinary clinics or hospitals, who keeps, harbors or knowingly permits to remain on or about his premises, more than five dogs or five cats or more than a combination of five dogs and cats over four months of age.
Cat Rules
Clayton County runs a community cat program under Sec. 14-350 through 14-352 that traps, sterilizes, rabies-vaccinates and ear-tips free-roaming cats instead of euthanizing them, then returns them to where they were caught, and a marked "community cat" is no longer classified as a stray.
Clayton County's Trap-Neuter-Return Community Cat Program
Light RestrictionsClayton County Code §§ 14-351, 14-352
(a)Any healthy free roaming cat that is impounded or surrender to animal control, may be placed into the community cat program.(b)Cats selected for the program shall be taken to a designated veterinarian to be spay/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, and ear-tipped for identification. The community cat shall then be returned to the neighborhood where it was trapped.(c)A community cat may be impoun...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Anyone who adopts a dog or cat from a Clayton County shelter, animal control agency or humane society must have it sterilized, either before pickup or within 30 days of adoption (or of the pet reaching six months old), backed by a sterilization bond posted at the time of adoption.
Mandatory Sterilization for Shelter-Adopted Pets
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Code §§ 14-300, 14-302
(a)Any public or private animal shelter, animal control agency operated by the state, county or a municipality, humane society, or public or private animal refuge 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.(2)Entering in...
Microchipping
When Clayton County animal control releases a dog impounded for running at large, an unprovoked attack or as a vicious dog, it must implant a microchip and log the owner's contact information before the dog goes home, at a $15 fee the owner pays; any owner can also request a $25 microchip at any time.
Microchipping Rules for Impounded Dogs in Clayton County
Some RestrictionsClayton County Code §§ 14-253.1, 14-253.2
(a)When claimed by the owner, any dog that was impounded for being at large shall have a microchip identifier implanted and the owner's contact information recorded by animal control before the dog is released to the owner. The $15.00 cost of the microchip implanting shall be paid by the owner before the dog is released. ... (c)In addition to dogs impounded for running at large, any dog impound...
Pet Store Rules
Pet shops may legally sell dogs, cats and other animals in unincorporated Clayton County, but only after obtaining an annual animal-establishment permit and meeting the county's hot-water, temperature and cage-size standards for the shop, and any dog or cat sold over three months old must already be vaccinated.
Pet Shops May Sell Animals Under County Permit
Some RestrictionsClayton County Code § 14-196
All pet shops, including pet shops operated in conjunction with another holding facility, shall in addition to the other requirements of this chapter comply with the minimum standards of this section. Failure to meet these standards shall be grounds for denial of a permit or revocation of a permit. Standards for pet shops are as follows: (1)Water. There shall be available hot water at a minimum...
Pet Groomer Rules
Any grooming shop operating in unincorporated Clayton County is an "animal establishment" under county code and must hold an annual permit from the animal control unit before opening, separate from its business license, with permits displayed on-site and subject to inspection at any reasonable time during business hours.
Pet Grooming Shops Need a Permit in Clayton County
Some RestrictionsClayton County Code §§ 14-3, 14-191(a)
Animal establishment means any pet shop, kennel, grooming shop, auction, performing animal exhibition; any facility operated, owned or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society or other nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals; or other facility engaged in the handling of animals,...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Clayton County's Mountain View Overlay District, the zoning tier wrapped around Hartsfield-Jackson, bans animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, animal boarding, pet supply stores and grooming shops outright in its Tier 6 Makers and Advanced Manufacturing district under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.85.
Vet Clinics Banned in Mountain View Tier 6
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.85, Tier 6 (MV-MME), Item 5(DD)
5.Prohibited Uses:(A)Drive thru restaurants.(B)Parking facilities not associated with a use.(C)Gas/service station.(D)Adult entertainment establishment.(E)Adult service facility.(F)Blood collection center.(G)Breeding kennel...(CC)Liquor store.(DD)Animal hospital, veterinary clinic, animal boarding, pet supply store, and animal grooming shop.(EE)Building and landscape contractor.(FF)Barber shop,...
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