Animal Ordinances in Fayette County, GA (2026)
11 rules for unincorporated Fayette County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Fayette County allows up to six chickens per dwelling on a one-acre lot, scaling to a 12-bird maximum as lot size grows, in every residential zoning district from EST through BTP. Section 110-89.5 bans roosters outright, requires coops to sit at least 50 feet from every property line, and keeps the birds confined to the side or rear yard.
Fayette County Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsFayette County Code § 110-89.5
The number of chickens allowed per principal dwelling unit is limited to six and, starting with a base lot size of one acre, three additional chickens for each additional acre to a maximum of 12 chickens shall be allowed in the following zoning districts: EST, C-S, R-85, R-80, R-78, R-75, R-72, R-70, R-55, R-50, R-45, R-40, R-20, DR-15, RMF, MHP, PUD-PRD, PUD-PRL, PUD-PEF, O-I, C-C, C-H, L-C, M...
Dog Leash Laws
Fayette County Code § 6-22 makes it unlawful for an owner to let any animal run at large, unattended, on county streets or another person's property without consent. Section 6-19 defines an animal as under restraint only when it's on a leash or lead, fenced in, or under a competent handler's direct control. A first at-large violation under § 6-26(b) draws at least a $25.00 fine.
Fayette County Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsFayette County Code §§ 6-19, 6-22, 6-26(b)
Animal under restraint means any animal secured by a leash or lead; or enclosed by way of fence or other enclosure; or under the control of a responsible and competent person and obedient to that person's commands, and the person being present with the animal; or the animal confined within a vehicle, parked or in motion. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow it to run at...
Breed Restrictions
Fayette County doesn't ban dogs by breed; it classifies individual dogs as dangerous or vicious based on behavior. Section 6-19 defines a dangerous dog by bite or attack history and a vicious dog as one that inflicts serious injury, and § 6-26.5 routes every classification investigation through the county's animal control director under the state's Responsible Dog Ownership Law.
Fayette County Dangerous/Vicious Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsFayette County Code §§ 6-19, 6-26.5, 6-27(c)
Dangerous dog means any dog that: (1)Causes a substantial puncture of a person's skin by teeth without causing serious injury; provided, however, that a nip, scratch, or abrasion shall not be sufficient to classify a dog as dangerous under this subparagraph; ... Vicious dog means any dog that inflicts serious injury on a person or causes serious injury to a person resulting from reasonable atte...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is allowed on any single-family lot across most of unincorporated Fayette County's residential districts under § 110-88, as long as hives meet the zoning setback. A beekeeper gets 30 days to fix a complaint before further action, and on-site honey sales need no home occupation approval.
Fayette County Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Light RestrictionsFayette County Code § 110-88
Beekeeping shall be allowed on any lot for which single-family residence is a Permitted Use (C-S, EST, R-85, R-80, R-78, R-75, R-72, R-70, R-55, R-50, R-45, R-40, R-20, and PUD-PRD) under the following conditions:(1)All beehives shall meet the setbacks for the applicable zoning district.(2)The beekeeper shall have 30 days from the time of a complaint to bring the beehives into compliance.(3)The...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Fayette County prohibits keeping any wild animal classified as inherently dangerous under Georgia's wild animal license law in every residential and A-R zoning district. Code Section 110-89 turns the state's licensing category, lions, bears, large primates, and venomous reptiles among them, into an outright local ban rather than a permit option, so no state license authorizes one on a residential or agricultural-residential lot.
Fayette County Bans Dangerous Wild Animals
Heavy RestrictionsFayette County Code § 110-89
All wild animals categorized as inherently dangerous that require a license or permit and liability insurance per O.C.G.A. title 27, ch. 5 (O.C.G.A. § 27-5-1 et seq.) shall be prohibited in all residential and A-R zoning districts.
Pet Limits
Homes in most unincorporated Fayette County zoning districts are limited to three animals per dwelling under § 110-87, though a litter under six months old does not count. A-R zoned lots keeping animals for personal use or hobby breeding face no numeric cap.
Fayette County Household Pet Limit: 3 Animals
Some RestrictionsFayette County Code § 110-87
The number of animals allowed per principal dwelling unit is limited to three in the following zoning districts: EST, C-S, R-85, R-80, R-78, R-75, R-72, R-70, R-55, R-50, R-45, R-40, R-20, DR-15, RMF, MHP, PUD-PRD, PUD-PRL, PUD-PEF, O-I, C-C, C-H, L-C, M-1, M-2, and BTP. One litter of animals of not more than six months of age shall not count toward this limit. The number of animals allowed in ...
Cat Rules
Fayette County allows trap, neuter, vaccinate and return (TNVR) programs for feral and free-roaming cats under Chapter 6, Article V. A community cat, defined at § 6-101, is a feral or free-roaming cat that's been sterilized, vaccinated against rabies and marked with a quarter-inch left-ear tip. Running a countywide or targeted TNVR program requires a two-year permit from the director of animal control under § 6-102.
Fayette County Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return Rule
Light RestrictionsFayette County Code §§ 6-100, 6-101, 6-102
Fayette County Georgia, in accordance with the provisions of this article shall allow trap, neuter, vaccinate and return (TNVR) activities and programs. ... Community cat shall mean any feral or free-roaming cat that has been, sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, and distinguished from other cats by being ear-tipped. ... Any organization or person desiring to conduct a county-wide or targeted TNV...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Fayette County doesn't require pet sterilization across the board, but § 6-26(i) makes it mandatory after a second at-large or restraint conviction. Anyone found guilty a second time of violating §§ 6-22, 6-23 or 6-24 must have that animal spayed or neutered within ten working days of the court's judgment and prove it to animal control.
Fayette County Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsFayette County Code § 6-26(i)
For the second time a person is found in violation of section 6-22, 6-23 or 6-24, regardless of whether or not the animal is picked up and impounded by an animal shelter officer, it is mandatory that the person found in violation have the subject animal spayed or neutered within ten working days after the adjudication of guilt by a court of competent jurisdiction, whether the animal is purebred...
Microchipping
Fayette County's animal control ordinance never requires owners to microchip a pet. Section 6-19 simply defines a microchip implant as an identifying circuit placed under an animal's skin, and § 6-26(e) lets a chip serve as proof of ownership: if an impounded animal is never claimed and its owner is identified by a rabies tag, license tag or microchip, that owner faces an abandonment charge.
Fayette County Microchip ID Rule
Few RestrictionsFayette County Code §§ 6-19, 6-26(e)
Microchip implant means an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of an animal for purposes of identification. ... if the owner is identified by a rabies or license tag or microchip implant on the animal or can be identified by witnesses, the owner will be considered in violation of this article for the offense of abandoning the animal, and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and sub...
Pet Groomer Rules
Unincorporated Fayette County will not permit on-premises pet grooming as a home occupation. Section 110-169(2)z.13 lists pet grooming alongside animal hospitals and commercial kennels among uses that can never be run from a residence, so a groomer needs a commercially or agriculturally zoned property instead.
Home Pet Grooming Ban in Fayette County
Heavy RestrictionsFayette County Code § 110-169(2)z.13
13.Uses. The following and similar uses shall not be considered home occupations: ... animal hospital; commercial kennel, veterinarian clinic with or without animal boarding place; ... taxidermy, on-premises welding; on-premises pet grooming; on-premises medical/dental facilities;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Unincorporated Fayette County treats animal hospitals, kennels and veterinary clinics as conditional uses, not by-right uses, in five zoning districts. Section 110-169(2)d and (2)e set required distances from residential land: 300 feet in most commercial and agricultural-residential districts, and a tighter 55-foot combined buffer and setback for the more limited Office-Institutional (O-I) version that bars boarding.
Veterinary Clinics in Fayette County, GA
Significant RestrictionsFayette County Code § 110-169(2)d, e
d.Animal hospital, kennel, and/or veterinary clinic. Allowed in A-R, C-C, C-H, and M-1 zoning districts. All structures, pens, runs, or enclosures shall not be located closer than 300 feet from any A-R or residential zoning district.e.Animal hospital and/or veterinary clinic. Excludes commercial and noncommercial kennel. Allowed in O-I zoning district. All structures shall not be located closer...
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