Fulton County, GA Ordinances (2026)

Unincorporated Fulton County bars parking any vehicle rated above 6,000 pounds on a residential street's right-of-way between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. under Code § 78-76: ordinary passenger…

Businesses in unincorporated Fulton County must build off-street loading spaces scaled to their gross floor area, each at least 12 by 35 feet with 14 feet of vertical clearance, and…

RVs, boats, trailers and campers may park in unincorporated Fulton County's residential yards only if kept out of the front and never used as living quarters, not left on the street as…

Unincorporated Fulton County bans keeping unlicensed vehicles, or any vehicle left inoperable over 30 days, on residential property or street rights-of-way under Code § 78-77, unless…

Unincorporated Fulton County requires parking spaces to sit on an all-weather surface, not grass or dirt. Front-yard parking is capped at two spaces at a driveway's end, and rear-yard…

Unincorporated Fulton County bars unsupervised minors 16 and under from public places between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. nightly, with parents, guardians and business owners who allow…

Parks and recreational facilities in unincorporated Fulton County close at dusk and reopen at dawn daily under Sec. 50-36, with dusk and dawn each defined by a 30-minute buffer around…

Dumping solid waste on public rights-of-way, parks, or facilities in unincorporated Fulton County violates the solid waste code and can draw a $500 fine for every day the violation…

Every lot in unincorporated Fulton County improved with anything other than a single-family home must show its refuse area on the site plan and screen it to 100 percent opacity under…

Unincorporated Fulton County haulers must collect yard trimmings curbside at least every other week, but Fulton County Code § 70-87(a)(2) bars mixing them with trash or bagging them in…

Registered haulers serving unincorporated Fulton County must provide curbside recycling collection, including a container, at least every other week under Fulton County Code §…

In unincorporated Fulton County, registered haulers must provide weekly curbside collection of household solid waste under County Code § 70-87(a)(1). Only contractors registered with…

Registered haulers in unincorporated Fulton County collect worn-out appliances and discarded furniture at curbside on an as-needed basis, but only for a fee agreed between hauler and…

Owners in unincorporated Fulton County's garbage collection districts must use a closed can or container of the size and type the director of public works sets, placed exactly where…

In unincorporated Fulton County, a bar or nightclub's noise-ordinance violations can cost it more than a fine: under Sec. 6-203(a)(12), a noise violation tied to the licensed business…

Fulton County's noise ordinance bans loud, excessive noise from loading or unloading vehicles and from opening boxes, crates and containers in the unincorporated county, backed by…

Unincorporated Fulton County requires portable generators and other internal combustion engines to run with a muffler that deadens explosion noise, treating unmuffled engine or blower…

Fulton County treats music or stereo noise audible 50 feet away between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. as automatic proof of a noise violation in the unincorporated county, covering bass-heavy car…

Fulton County Code § 50-50 bans smoking and vaping everywhere on county property, indoors and outdoors, covering cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and hookahs along with…

Fulton County bans riding, carrying or pushing skateboards, bicycles and scooters through trails, sidewalks, plazas, recreation courts and pavilions in county-owned parks under Sec…

Fulton County treats loitering as a police-discretion offense in unincorporated areas: Code § 46-141(a) makes it unlawful to remain or loiter in front of any public place, or on a…

Fulton County bans opening or drinking any alcoholic beverage within 100 feet of a package retail store, or anywhere on that store's property, in the unincorporated county, as a…

Unincorporated Fulton County treats first-time possession of under an ounce of marijuana as a $75 civil fine option instead of standard disorderly-conduct jail time.

Fences and walls in unincorporated Fulton County top out at 8 feet from grade under Zoning Resolution § 4.11. Columns and ornaments may rise up to 3 feet above that cap, every fence…

Unincorporated Fulton County bars wire and plastic fencing, including chain-link with plastic or wood inserts, along street rights-of-way in every zoning district except AG-1, M-1…

Fences and walls in unincorporated Fulton County need a permit from the Department of Environment and Community Development before they go up, with one carve-out: fences built for…

Retaining walls over 4 feet in unincorporated Fulton County need a permit, and walls over 6 feet require an engineer's certification before the county will issue one.

Every private swimming pool in unincorporated Fulton County must be completely surrounded by a fence, wall or building at least five feet high, with self-closing, positive-latching…

Letting uncultivated weeds or grass grow past 12 inches on a lot in unincorporated Fulton County violates the county code. Section 34-730 defines the overgrowth, Section 34-743(b)(4)…

Fulton County requires a performance bond worth 125% of tree replacement cost before approving clear-cutting on a development site in the unincorporated county.

Fulton County water customers may irrigate daily but only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., and other outdoor water use is limited to three set days a week by address number.

In unincorporated Fulton County, anyone in the business of trimming or removing trees must haul away all sawdust, branches and stumps from the job site: debris can't be left on the…

Unincorporated Fulton County enforces the National Electrical Code (NFPA) and will issue an electrical permit only to a contractor who holds a valid Electrical License from the State…

Unincorporated Fulton County enforces the International Plumbing Code and hands plumbing permits only to contractors holding a valid Georgia Master Plumbers License, then requires…

Fulton County's amended building code sets three required inspection stages for mechanical and plumbing work in unincorporated areas: underground, rough-in and final, each scheduled by…

Unincorporated Fulton County limits family day care homes to weekday-Saturday daytime hours, requires 1,000 feet of separation from another such use, and mandates state registration on…

Unincorporated Fulton County requires a building permit for construction, alteration and repair work, with only narrow exemptions, small sheds under 150 square feet, roof repairs, and…

Fulton County requires vacant dwellings and structures found unfit to have a deadbolt installed above the existing lock on the front exterior door, plus secured openings and debris…

A conspicuous no-soliciting sign at a home in unincorporated Fulton County legally bars door-to-door solicitors under Code § 54-40, and § 54-38(5) separately bans soliciting at any…

Anyone selling, soliciting, or canvassing door to door in unincorporated Fulton County must first register with the police department and carry a personal ID permit card under Sec…

New homes within 5 miles of Hartsfield-Jackson must meet Fulton County's Site Acceptability Noise Standards: development is acceptable up to 65 dBA, needs a sound attenuation plan from…

A barking dog or noisy bird can be a code violation in unincorporated Fulton County: Code § 46-137(b)(5) declares 'the keeping of any animal or bird which by causing frequent or long…

In unincorporated Fulton County, sounding a vehicle horn or signaling device for anything other than a danger warning, or making it unreasonably loud, is a prohibited noise violation.

Unincorporated Fulton County limits loud construction equipment near occupied homes to set daytime hours on weekdays and Saturdays, bars it on Sundays and holidays, and requires…

Unincorporated Fulton County has no fixed quiet hours. Instead, County Code § 46-137 bans any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise, and any noise that annoys, disturbs, injures, or…

Fulton County's noise ordinance requires any noise-creating blower or power fan in unincorporated areas to be muffled so its engine noise is deadened, with no separate hours limit.

In unincorporated Fulton County, new residential and special-use development within five miles of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport must meet the county's Site…

Festivals in unincorporated Fulton County that market beyond the local community and expect 250 or more attendees at once need board of commissioners approval with eight-foot opaque…

In unincorporated Fulton County, any parade, foot race, bikeathon or fundraising walk that uses the public right-of-way needs sign-off from the Fulton County Police Department before…

In unincorporated Fulton County, most subdivisions and land-disturbing projects must clear a two-stage Public Works review under Code § 26-166: a stormwater concept plan at the…

Unincorporated Fulton County requires a land disturbance permit before any grading or development on steep slopes, with stricter limits as slope percentage increases under the county's…

Unincorporated Fulton County caps engine idling by county-owned or county-leased vehicles at 15 minutes, stretching to 25 minutes below 32°F. The rule binds county employees and…

New construction near a special flood hazard or flood-prone area in unincorporated Fulton County must set its lowest floor at least three feet above the base flood elevation. Zoning…

Boat ramps and docks are allowed in Fulton County's special flood hazard and flood-prone areas only as approved recreational uses, and only in the unincorporated county, not in…

Fulton County's floodplain rules apply only to unincorporated areas that contain a special flood hazard or flood-prone area, and any grading, filling or other improvement there needs a…

Unincorporated Fulton County allows one detached accessory dwelling, called a guest house, per single-family lot in Suburban, R-1 through R-6, TR, AG-1 and related districts. Zoning…

In unincorporated Fulton County's single-family districts, garage and carport parking spaces count toward the minimum off-street parking a home must provide, and only two spaces may…

Fulton County's guest house zoning standard bars charging rent: § 19.3.5(B)(1) limits occupancy of an unincorporated-county guest house to relatives, guests or employees who work on…

Unincorporated Fulton County caps how many animals one property may keep, 10 dogs or cats, 5 horses or cows, 10 hogs, sheep or goats, and 75 rabbits or fowl, unless the site is a…

Fulton County doesn't mandate spay/neuter for pets generally, but any dog or other animal formally classified dangerous or vicious must be sterilized by a licensed vet before the…

Keeping a wild or exotic animal in unincorporated Fulton County is legal only if the owner already holds every state and federal permit the species requires: Code § 34-209 makes…

Fulton County pet shops cannot sell dogs or cats outright: they may only offer adoption of animals sourced from an animal care facility or rescue organization, and never place a dog or…

Keeping chickens or other livestock on residential property in unincorporated Fulton County comes with hard numeric limits: Code § 34-210(b) caps most households at 75 chickens…

Fulton County doesn't ban dog breeds by name: animal control investigates bite and aggression reports and can formally classify a dog as dangerous or vicious after mailed notice and a…

A kennel, veterinary hospital or veterinary clinic is a permitted use in Fulton County's AG-1 district, but only with animal buildings fully enclosed and set back 100 feet, and outdoor…

Fulton County Code § 34-201 requires owners of any cat over four months old in the county's service area to obtain a dog/cat license, just like dog owners.

Fulton County Code § 34-205 makes it unlawful to let a dog leave its owner's or custodian's premises unless securely under a leash no more than six feet long, and prohibits dogs…

Unincorporated Fulton County allows home occupations as an accessory use in any zoning district, but only for resident family members, and operators must hold the required occupational…

Fulton County bans family day care homes in multifamily buildings, requires them to sit at least 1,000 feet apart, and limits hours to 6 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

A home occupation in unincorporated Fulton County can host no more than two clients or patrons on the property at once. Zoning Resolution § 4.12.G carves out one exception: a licensed…

A home occupation in unincorporated Fulton County cannot have any sign identifying it, and nothing tied to the business, no stored inventory, no display, no visible activity, can be…

Unincorporated Fulton County requires tattoo and body art businesses to follow the Board of Health's Body Art Rules and Regulations, adopted wholesale into county code.

No one may operate a massage therapy business in unincorporated Fulton County without a license from the department of finance, on top of a separate occupation tax certificate. Massage…

Fulton County requires adult entertainment establishments to hold a separate license from the finance department, on top of the standard occupation tax certificate.

Fulton County requires every secondhand dealer, junk dealer, and pawnbroker who buys used jewelry, precious metals, guns, or bicycles to keep a serialized record book documenting each…

Auto repair cannot operate as a home occupation anywhere in unincorporated Fulton County. Zoning Resolution § 4.12.D excludes it by name from the list of uses a resident may run out of…

In unincorporated Fulton County, no privately owned structure may sit within a public right-of-way except a driveway, access walkway, or a code-compliant mailbox support post.

In unincorporated Fulton County, selling from a table, cart or stand along a roadway requires an Administrative Permit under Zoning Resolution § 19.3.11(1). The county issues no more…

Unincorporated Fulton County confines food truck vending to the O-I, MIX, C-1, C-2, M-1A, M-1 and M-2 zoning districts, limits hours to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6…

A food truck in unincorporated Fulton County needs an administrative use permit that lasts 1 year, works only at the single approved site, and allows operation no more than 4 days per…

In unincorporated Fulton County, every new in-bay automatic or conveyor commercial car wash permitted and built after September 4, 2013 must install an operational recycled water…

Fulton County can shut off water to any property with a leaking pipe or fixture, giving the occupant 24 hours notice unless the waste needs to stop immediately.

Unincorporated Fulton County property owners must keep premises free of conditions that breed or harbor rodents, or face a code violation.

Every business or practitioner in unincorporated Fulton County must file an occupation tax registration by March 31 each year, reporting its SIC/NAICS code and estimated gross…

Removing a county arborist-designated specimen tree anywhere in unincorporated Fulton County is unlawful without the arborist's express written permission.

Fulton County's tree preservation ordinance singles out heritage trees for extra protection: Code § 26-398(32)(b) lets the director of the department, or an authorized agent, designate…

Commercial filming on Fulton County property requires prior approval from the county manager, who has full discretion under Sec. 102-568 to approve, deny, or set the procedures a…

Fulton County charges a 5% occupancy tax on hotel and motel room rent countywide. Operators collect it from guests and remit monthly to the county's Director of Finance under Code §…

Unincorporated Fulton County allows automated red-light cameras at intersections the Fulton County Police Department selects. Running a red light caught on camera brings a civil…

Unincorporated Fulton County requires every property owner, including owners of vacant, undeveloped lots, to keep the land free of weeds and vegetative overgrowth, garbage and junk, or…

Unincorporated Fulton County can force owners to repair or demolish dwellings and structures that are unfit for habitation or use through a court nuisance-abatement order.

Unincorporated Fulton County's Night Sky Ordinance requires nonexempt outdoor light fixtures to be full cutoff, casting no light above the horizontal as measured at the fixture.

Outdoor lighting on permitted development in unincorporated Fulton County must be full cutoff and aimed so stray light and glare do not cross onto neighboring land. Zoning Resolution §…

In conservation subdivisions in unincorporated Fulton County south of Atlanta, Subdivision Regulations § 6.7.1 makes HOA membership mandatory for every lot owner, assigns the…

In unincorporated Fulton County, the AG-1 Agricultural District zones land specifically to allow farming: general and specialized farming, livestock and poultry raising are permitted…

In unincorporated Fulton County's commercial and mixed-use districts, a business may post no more than three window signs per unit, each capped at four square feet or 25 percent of…

Temporary holiday lighting is exempt from Fulton County's Night Sky Ordinance shielding and fixture standards in the unincorporated county.

Fulton County's sign ordinance flatly bars changeable-copy signs from using changing lights or electronic images, meaning true digital, LED-style billboards aren't allowed under Zoning…

Unincorporated Fulton County lists uncontainerized garbage, litter, exterior junk storage, and accumulated hazardous or putrescible waste as violations code enforcement can cite.

Fulton County's Board of Code Enforcement must issue a decision within 15 calendar days after the final hearing on a reported code violation closes.

Unincorporated Fulton County can order a dwelling repaired or demolished if it is dilapidated, structurally unsound, or lacks adequate ventilation, light, or sanitation.

Residential developers who provide Fulton County's Inclusionary Housing Component can add 20 percent more units than the base zoning allows, one of the county's incentives for building…

Unincorporated Fulton County bans open burning on weekends, nights and holidays, and lets the fire marshal halt any fire during hazardous weather.

Backyard campfires and barbecues in unincorporated Fulton County need no permit and no fee: Code § 30-42(a) requires authorization for any open fire, but subsection (4) exempts fires…

In unincorporated Fulton County's R-1 Single Family Dwelling District, new houses must sit at least 60 feet back from the front property line, 50 feet from the rear, and 25 feet from…

In unincorporated Fulton County, the AG-1 and R-1 zoning districts cap residential buildings at 40 feet, measured from finished grade to the roof's highest point. A short list of…

In the TR Townhouse Residential district of unincorporated Fulton County, the combined footprint of all buildings and parking may not exceed 50 percent of the total land area under…