Animal Ordinances in Rockdale County, GA (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated Rockdale County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Rockdale County allows chickens, horses, cows, goats and hogs under Code § 42-72(6), but housing must sit set distances from any occupied building: 100 feet for fewer than 25 fowl, 1,000 feet for 25 or more, and separate acreage rules bar hogs, cows, goats, mules and horses from small subdivision lots.
Backyard Chickens & Livestock, Rockdale County
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 42-72(6)
(6)Keeping of horses, mules, asses, cows, sheep, goats, hogs, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons or similar fowl or animals except under the following conditions: ... b.Hogs, cows, goats, mules, horses or similar animals shall not be permitted in a residential subdivision, the lots of which contain less than 1½ acres each; 1½ acres to five acres, one ...
Dog Leash Laws
Unincorporated Rockdale County bans letting a dog run at large or go unattended on streets, in parks, on shared apartment common areas, or on someone else's property, and separately requires any dog to be leashed and controlled whenever it's off its own owner's property.
Dog Leash and Control Rules in Rockdale County
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 18-12, 18-13
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or anyone having a dog in their possession and control to allow the dog to run at large or permit the dog to be out of control unattended on or about the streets, right-of-ways, and/or highways of Rockdale County; in any park, except in county parks that are specifically designated as off leash areas; unattended on or about the common property of an...
Breed Restrictions
Rockdale County classifies dogs as dangerous or vicious based on what a specific dog has done, biting, attacking or killing a pet, not by breed, then requires registration, proper enclosure, insurance, muzzling off-property and escalating fines up to $1,000 plus jail for repeat violations.
Dangerous and Vicious Dog Classification Rules
Significant RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 18-41, 18-45
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 subsection;(2)Aggressively attacks in a manner that causes a person to reasonably believe that the dog posed an imminent threat of serious injury to suc...
Beekeeping
Rockdale County's Unified Development Ordinance sorts apiaries into Class A (up to 6 colonies), Class B (7 to 14) and Class C (15 or more), and § 218-13(e2) sets density, rear-yard placement and water-source rules for every class of hive kept in unincorporated Rockdale County.
Beekeeping and Apiary Rules in Rockdale County
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 106-1, 218-13(e2)
Apiary: A place where one or more managed colony(s) or hive(s) is located. An apiary consists of managed honeybee colony(s) or hive(s) that are kept in a structure(s) intentionally provided by the beekeeper for honeybee housing. ... Class A: ... Up to 6 colonies per parcel Class B: 7 to 14 colonies per parcel Class C: 15 or more colonies per parcel ... (e2)Apiary(s); All classes.(1)Hives shall ...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Rockdale County bans owning, possessing, breeding or selling skunks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, wolves, wolf hybrids and exotic cats, plus any other wild animal, unless the owner holds a federal or state Department of Natural Resources license for that species.
Prohibited Wild Animals as Pets in Rockdale County
Heavy RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 18-16
It shall be unlawful to purchase, sell, own, possess, harbor, and/or breed skunks, foxes, prairie dogs, raccoons, coyotes, wolves, hybrid wolves, any hybrid animal that is part wild animal, exotic cats or any other native or nonnative wile animals unless licensed by the respective federal agency or Georgia Department of Natural Resources to possess such animal.
Pet Limits
Unincorporated Rockdale County caps household pets at five per lot under Code Section 218-7(h)(11), not counting litters under six months old, a limit that carries over from the A-R district into R-1, R-2 and other residential districts under Section 218-7(i).
Household Pet Limits in Rockdale County
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 218-7(h)(11)
(h)The following accessory uses and structures, including similar uses and structures, shall be permitted in the A-R district, provided that they comply with all conditions and standards in subsections (a) through (g): ... (11)The number of household pets on a single lot shall be limited to five (not including litters under six months of age). ... (i)All residential accessory uses and structure...
Cat Rules
Unlike dogs, cats running at large in unincorporated Rockdale County are not subject to impoundment under the chapter's at-large provision, but a feral cat that fails a temperament test and cannot be traced to an owner is humanely euthanized without the usual reclaim hold.
Cat At-Large and Feral Colony Rules
Light RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 18-23, 18-24
Animals (excluding felines) running at large in violation of this chapter ... Every attempt will be made to stabilize an owned animal to afford the owner the opportunity to reclaim the animal, with the exception of feral cats. Once said feral cat has undergone an accepted temperament test and no proof of ownership can be determined, said animal shall be humanely euthanized without an additional...
Microchipping
A dog impounded a second time for running at large in unincorporated Rockdale County within 12 months of the first violation must be microchipped, or have its existing chip updated, within 30 days, on top of a rising impound fee under the county's fee schedule.
Mandatory Microchip on a Second At-Large Dog
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 18-23(b)(2)
Second violation within 12 months immediately following the first violation: an impound fee of an amount established in the Rockdale County Animal Service Fee Schedule for a second violation shall be imposed, and the owner shall be responsible for having the dog implanted with a microchip identifier within 30 days of violation, or ensure an existing microchip is updated with the owner's current...
Pet Groomer Rules
Rockdale County's Unified Development Ordinance defines a pet grooming or training business as 'animal services, limited' and bars it outright from the R-1 and R-2 residential districts. It's allowed only with a special use permit in the agricultural-residential district and by right in most commercial and industrial zones.
Pet Grooming Zoning Rules in Rockdale County
Significant RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 106-1, 218-1
Animal services, limited: A use that provides grooming and training services for dogs or cats or other small animals. A- ... R ... Animal services, Limited C
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics in unincorporated Rockdale County must sit at least 50 feet from any residentially zoned or used property, and any attached kennel or boarding operation needs 100 feet of separation, under the Unified Development Ordinance's use standards enforced by the Department of Planning and Development.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Rockdale County
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 218-13(zzz)
Veterinary services.(1)Any structure used as an animal hospital or veterinary clinic shall be located and its activities conducted at least 50 feet from any property zoned or used for residential purposes, measured along a straight line connecting the nearest points of the subject properties.(2)Medical treatment or care shall be practiced only within an enclosed building or structure.(3)Kennel ...
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