Animal Ordinances in Paulding County, GA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Paulding County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Paulding County ties poultry and livestock keeping to zoning. Chapter 14 Section 14-11 bars any livestock or fowl enclosure not authorized by the county's zoning ordinances. Rural A-1 and ER acreage permits them; suburban lots do not.
Paulding County Chicken & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsPaulding County Code Sec. 14-11
It shall be unlawful for any person to have, control or possess any pasture or enclosure for livestock or fowl in any fashion not authorized by the zoning ordinances of the county. All pastures or enclosures shall at all times be kept and maintained in a proper, clean, and sanitary condition.
Dog Leash Laws
Paulding County Code Section 14-12 requires every animal off its owner's property to be on a leash and under a person's control, and bars leaving any animal unattended on a tether. Rabies vaccination is required by three months.
Paulding County Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsPaulding County Code Sec. 14-12
No animal shall be allowed to roam free and when not on the property of its owner must be on a leash, or similar physical control device, and in the control of a person. This section shall not apply to community cats or community cat caregivers. An owner may only confine an animal in an unattended manner inside a building or fenced enclosure. Any other form of unattended confinement shall be...
Breed Restrictions
Paulding County bans no dog breed. It regulates dogs by behavior under Georgia's Responsible Dog Ownership Law, O.C.G.A. Section 4-8-20 et seq. A dog is classified dangerous or vicious for what it does, not its breed.
Paulding County Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsPaulding County Code Sec. 14-1
Dangerous dog means, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21(a)(2), as may be amended, 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;
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is legal across Paulding County and no county permit exists. Georgia law, O.C.G.A. Section 2-14-41.1, bars any county from prohibiting honeybee hives, though it preserves zoning setback authority. Hobbyists need not register with the state.
Paulding County Beekeeping Rules
Few RestrictionsO.C.G.A. § 2-14-41.1
No county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt or continue in effect any ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution prohibiting, impeding, or restricting the establishment or maintenance of honeybees in hives.
Exotic Pets
Paulding County Code Section 14-86 makes it unlawful to keep any wild animal without a written license from Animal Control, which also requires notice to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. State wildlife law applies on top.
Paulding County Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsPaulding County Code Sec. 14-86
No person or business shall own, harbor or permit to be kept or harbored a wild animal within the county, other than those persons who have received a written license to harbor and/or own a wild animal, as described in this division, and those licensed animal establishments which have received approval in writing by the animal control department as a license for such animal.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Paulding County does not require spay or neuter for pets generally, but any dog officially classified as dangerous or vicious under the county's Responsible Dog Ownership Law provisions must be sterilized by its owner, on top of microchipping and strict confinement rules.
Paulding County Dangerous Dog Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsPaulding County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 14-14(d)
The owner of a dangerous or vicious dog shall cause the dog to be neutered or spayed.(e)The owner of a dangerous dog may not sell, donate, or otherwise transfer possession of the dangerous dog to a new owner without notifying the new owner in writing of the classification of the dog as a dangerous dog. At the time of sale, donation, or transfer, both the existing owner and the new owner shall c...
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