Georgia Backyard Chicken Laws
Georgia has no statewide chicken law — every city sets its own rules. Find your city below.
5
Cities allow chickens
0
Cities ban chickens
5
Cities covered
Important: Georgia delegates all backyard chicken rules to local municipalities. Your city's ordinance is what matters — not state law. HOA covenants can also override city rules on your specific property.
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
Like most US states, Georgia does not have a single statewide law governing backyard chickens. Each city, village, and county sets its own rules about flock size, roosters, permits, coop setbacks, and sanitation.
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.
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