Georgia Backyard Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements vary by municipality and zoning. Find your researched Georgia city or county below.
Quick legal answer
Are backyard chickens legal in Georgia?
Conditional — rules vary by municipality or zoning
- Hen limit
- Varies by city
- Roosters
- Varies by city; nuisance rules may also apply
- Permit
- Varies by municipality
- Setback
- Varies by municipality and zoning district
- Zoning
- Your city or county ordinance controls
Last verified: May 2026
Official source varies by municipalityOrdinances and zoning rules change. Confirm the current requirements with your municipality before buying birds or building a coop.
5
Cities allow chickens
0
Cities ban chickens
0
Conditional rules
5
Cities covered
Important: Local zoning and animal ordinances determine whether a particular property qualifies. Confirm the city or county rule that applies to your address. HOA covenants can also be more restrictive.
Easiest cities
Strictest cities
Athens
Up to 6 hens. Covered enclosure required in rear yard; local summaries cite 20 ft from neighboring residential structures and variable property-line setbacks
Atlanta
Up to 25 hens. Pens or yards must be at least 50 ft from any residence other than the owner's, or any business establishment; 5 ft from owner's residence
Augusta
No fixed max. Zoning, nuisance, and animal-service rules apply; confirm any property-specific setback with Augusta before building
Columbus
Up to 6 hens. Structures for domestic fowl not connected with agriculture must be at least 50 ft from any lot line
Savannah
No fixed max. No simple chicken-specific setback found in the reviewed animal ordinance
About Georgia Chicken Laws
Backyard chicken requirements in Georgia vary across cities, counties, and zoning districts. Local rules address flock size, roosters, permits, coop setbacks, sanitation, and property qualifications.
Always verify rules directly with your city clerk or planning department before purchasing birds or building a coop. Laws change — our pages include a last-verified date and link directly to the municipal code for each city.
Get Backyard Chicken Updates for Georgia
Join the CoopCraft newsletter for law-page updates, planning tools, and practical first-flock guidance.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.