Animal Ordinances in Georgetown County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Georgetown County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Georgetown County Code § 4-24(1) bars any owner from letting a dog run at large off the owner's premises without a leash or similar restraint anywhere in the unincorporated county, with a hunting-dog exception during recognized state hunting seasons. Section 4-24(2) adds beachfront-specific leash hours, requiring restraint at all times except limited voice-command leeway between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Dog Leash Law, Unincorporated Georgetown County
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code § 4-24(1),(2)
(1)Running at large. It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog to permit the dog to run at large at any time off the premises of the owner and not under restraint of the owner or other responsible person by means of a leash or other similar restraining device. Any dogs not so restrained will be deemed unlawfully running at large. ... (2)Special provision applying only to beachfront. It shal...
Breed Restrictions
Georgetown County has no breed-specific ban. Instead, § 4-24(3) targets any 'fierce or dangerous dog, or a dog which has bitten some person,' making it unlawful for the owner to let that dog run at large or be possessed in public anywhere in the unincorporated county, on pain of seizure and humane euthanasia by county authorities.
Dangerous Dog Rules, Georgetown County SC
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code § 4-24(3)
(3)Dangerous or vicious animals. It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of a fierce or dangerous dog, or a dog which has bitten some person, to permit the dog to run at large or be possessed in public within the county, and if such a dog is found by the county authorities in violation of the terms of this section, then the county authorities shall have the right to capture or impound such...
Wildlife Feeding
Georgetown County Code § 4-3 makes it unlawful to place food or other nourishment on county-owned property to feed any stray or feral animal that is on or frequents that property, and separately bans abandoning any animal there. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office enforces the ban with a $250 fine per occurrence and up to 30 days in jail.
Feeding Stray Animals on County Land Banned
Some RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code § 4-3
Sec. 4-3. - Abandonment and feeding of animals on publicly owned property. (a)It shall be unlawful to abandon or place for the purpose of abandonment any animal on or in county owned property.(b)It shall be unlawful to place food or items of nourishment on or in county owned property for the purpose of feeding any stray or feral animal that is either on county owned property or frequents county...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Georgetown County does not require pet owners generally to spay or neuter their animals. Under § 4-27(c), the animal shelter itself must spay or neuter every unclaimed or non-privately-owned animal before releasing it for adoption, though the shelter may waive that requirement at its discretion, and the rule never applies to an animal its private owner reclaims.
Shelter Spay/Neuter Rule, Georgetown County
Light RestrictionsGeorgetown County Code § 4-27(c)
(c)Fees. All fees associated with animal redemption, boarding, and adoption of impounded animals shall be set by the animal shelter. All animals received by the animal shelter that are not privately owned shall be spayed or neutered before being released. The animal shelter may waive such requirement at their discretion. The requirement to spay or neuter shall not apply to a privately owned ani...
All Georgetown County ordinances
See every category we cover for Georgetown County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Georgetown County Ordinance Hub →