Residents seek to modify Henry County GA Ordinance

Larry & June Stanley, Stockbridge GA, have started the process to request a change to the Henry County ULDC in regard to keeping fowl in R-1 zoned areas. Currently the restriction requires a minimum of three acres and RA zoning. We are happy to work with county staff toward defining specific requirements and authorizations for the code change. Note the attached spreadsheet of other Georgia counties and cities where fowl, specifically chickens, are allowed for non-commercial uses. R-1 zoning currently allows multiple dogs, cats, even pigs as pets. Fowl such as chickens, quail or ducks pose no more nuisance or public health problem and they do produce eggs for personal consumption. It is our intention to purchase three or four Araucana chickens and house them in a coop within our fenced back yard in an R-1 subdivision. The lot is heavily wooded and there is ample space between neighboring houses or property lines. Araucana are brightly colored birds that produce blue eggs. Blue-shelled eggs of Araucana chickens have higher protein levels and lower cholesterol levels than market eggs.

We hope you will join us in this endeavor. Please contact June at

JUNE7420@YAHOO.COM.

Georgia County / City ordinances

City Alpharetta Albany County Chickens Roosters Maximum Yes Yes No No Permits Restrictions Required No Coop No Coop must be 25" from ground and 25' from any dwelling, feed in rat-proof container 25 No Coop must be 5' from owner's dwelling and 505 from neighbors. No Coop - 100' from any lot line. Code Section 10303 Sec. 10-103

Atlanta

Yes

Yes

Sec 18-7

Columbus

Yes

No

32 w/2

Sec 5-42(1)

acres Savannah Marietta Macon Lilburn Bartow Jefferson Decatur Dalton Canton Gwinnett Chatham No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Cherokee Yes Yes No No Yes 4 No Coop - may not run at large. Sec 9-5001 Zoning & Coop Restrictions 5 acres Zoning R-1 - secure enclosure Sec 509 Noise Ordinance Sec. 10-13 Zoning Restrictions, Coop restrictions. Proximity, sanitation, noise ordinances Sec. 14-8

Yes No No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Sec. 14-1, Ordinance No. 9416 Sanitation, noise, and zoning ordinances Agricultural District only M-2 Zoning Only Noise ordinance, no running at large Sec. 5-8 Sec. 14-3 Sec. 10-4

Athens Winter Warner Robins Valdosta Statesboro Smyrna Roswell Rome Norcross Newman Duluth Lithonia Milton

Clarke

Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No

No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No 75

Yes No 5 No No No

No Yes Columbia Yes No Yes DeKalb Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes

E-1 and E-2 Zoning, Proximity, noise, zoning, sanitation Zoning, sanitation, proximity, Sec. 4-2 building Nuisance ordinance, coop restrictions Sec 4-17 Coop Sec 9-82 Coop, nuisance Coop 4 sq ft per chicken, 25' Chapter 8 Section from dwelling 15 Zoning, proximity, sanitation, noise Coop, zoning, proximity, sanitation, noise Coop, zoning, sanitation, proximity, noise, building Zoning, coop, sanitation, proximity, noise, building Zoning, coop, sanitation, proximity, noise, building

No No No No No

Tucker Dahlonega Forsyth Cumming Augusta

Columbia County, GA - Paula in Zoning Dept. 706-868-3400 Raising chickens (not for commercial) in a backyard falls under the nuisance ordinance. As long as you are taking care of them and not bothering the neighbors, it is ok to have them. Of course, homeowners associations may have tighter regulations. If it becomes a problem, animal services takes care of the problem.