Animal Ordinances in Dougherty County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Dougherty County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Dougherty County, Sec. 2-3.5-23 requires every animal owner to keep the animal 'under control at all times' once it leaves the owner's property, meaning confined in a vehicle, secured on a leash or lead, or penned with the property owner's permission. Tying an animal in a street, alley, or sidewalk is separately banned.
Dog Leash and At-Large Law in Dougherty County
Some RestrictionsDougherty County Code § 2-3.5-23(a), (d)-(e)
(a)It shall be the duty of the owner of any animal or anyone having an animal in his possession to keep the animal under control at all times while the animal is off the real property limits of the owner, possessor or custodian. For the purposes of this section, an animal is deemed under control when it is confined within a vehicle; is secured by a leash, lead, or other device held by a compete...
Breed Restrictions
Dougherty County does not ban dogs by breed; instead Sec. 2-3.5-32 lets an animal services officer classify an individual dog as 'dangerous' or 'vicious' after a bite or aggressive attack. A classified dog needs an annual certificate of registration, and county law then dictates exactly how it may leave the owner's property.
Dangerous and Vicious Dog Restrictions in Dougherty County
Significant RestrictionsDougherty County Code § 2-3.5-32(c)(1), (d)(1), (d)(3)
(c)Requirements for possessing classified dogs.(1)It is unlawful for an owner to have or possess within the county a classified dog without a certificate of registration issued in accordance with the provisions of this section. ... No more than one (1) certificate of registration shall be issued per domicile, regardless of whether such certificate of registration is for a dangerous dog or a vic...
Cat Rules
In unincorporated Dougherty County, free-roaming community and feral cats are exempt from the county's at-large impoundment rules. Animal control regulations define a 'community cat' and 'community cat caregiver' who feeds or shelters them under a trap-neuter-return effort, and Sec. 2-3.5-23(f) bars officers from impounding a healthy free-roaming cat just for being loose.
Community Cat Exemption in Unincorporated Dougherty County
Few RestrictionsDougherty County Code §§ 2-3.5-22, 2-3.5-23(f)
Community cat means any free-roaming cat who may be cared for by one (1) or more residents of the immediate area who is/are known or unknown; a community cat may or may not be feral. Community cat caregiver means a person who, in accordance with a good faith effort to conduct trap-neuter-return, provides care, to include providing food, shelter, or medical care, to one (1) or more community cat...
Microchipping
Dougherty County's animal control code does not require every pet to be microchipped, but Sec. 2-3.5-32(c)(2) makes it a condition of registering a dog that has been classified as dangerous or vicious: the owner must prove the dog is microchipped, with the chip's ID number, before a certificate of registration can issue.
Microchip Required for Classified Dogs in Dougherty
Some RestrictionsDougherty County Code § 2-3.5-32(c)(2)
(2)Subject to the additional requirements of this article, a certificate of registration for classified dogs shall be issued once the animal services officer determines that the following requirements have been met:a.The owner has maintained a proper enclosure designed to securely confine the dangerous classified dog on the owner's property (which shall not include any electronic animal confine...
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