[Newbie] Keeping Chickens in Gwinnett County, GA (Specifically Sugar Hill, GA 30518)

I've been thinking about keeping either a few hens or maybe raising quail. But, I'm still in the "toying with the idea / research" phase.
I feel absolutely illiterate trying to read municipal codes and ordinances and...gah. I don't want to keep digging and asking around and get my heart set on this any more than it already is only to find later that I can't have any sort of poultry.

From the posts I read on http://www.meetup.com/chickens/messages/boards/forum/941455 it seems to be a resounding, emphatic, and absolutely depressing shade of "no". But then back in March there was this article in AJC where it says that in Gwinnett County you have to have to be able to keep them is 3 acres.
http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/raising-chickens-hatching-a-1378848.html

Here's Gwinnett's Municipal code :
http://www.municode.com/Library/GA/Gwinnett_County
And Sugar Hill's :
http://www.cityofsugarhill.com/filestorage/62/141/361/Sugar_Hill_City_Code.pdf
But they contradict one another, don't they?

On a lighter and less important note:

"All garbage cans and refuse containers shall be rat proof,
insect proof, water tight, structurally strong to withstand handling stress, easily filled,
emptied and cleaned; shall be provided with tight-fitting covers or similar closures, and
shall be maintained at all times in a clean sanitary condition."

My elected officials have never once owned a garbage can.

I collected some information about Gwinnett County's livestock ordinances over here, including a zoning map and phone number where you can contact the zoning department:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/685732/lilburn-ga-questions-about-chicken-ordinances#post_9280309

Do you live within the city limits of Sugar Hill itself? Your address might say Sugar Hill but you might be outside the city limits in Gwinnett County, in which case you would need to be zoned for Agriculture and have three acres in order to have chickens. (See the zoning map in the other thread.)

If you're in Sugar Hill, here's the zoning map:

http://www.cityofsugarhill.com/filestorage/62/162/6729/2010_Zoning_Map_Official.pdf

And while there's nothing about livestock in the city code, there is the Sugar Hill zoning ordinance, and unfortunately I don't see raising livestock as a permitted use of *any* zone (skip to page 54 for permitted uses):

http://www.cityofsugarhill.com/filestorage/62/162/1102/zonord-08222012.pdf

Hope this helps!

Aw, thanks. We're not zoned for agriculture...and the lot's 1.18 acre. Unfortunately we're very much in Gwinnett. (Edit: I meant to say Sugar Hill, but Gwinnett too.)
/sigh

Time to start writing letters, emails, and pestering people on the phone. Thanks so much for the info. I do appreciate it!

I know Gwinnett allows chickens, but it never hurts to check on your city restrictions. I know its a pain, but it's worth it!

My wife and I live in Sugar Hill as well and we are interested in raising 3 chickens. Did you find anything out about this? I only live on .23 acre.

Chickens are not allowed in Sugar Hill, but I believe we have enough people in the area who may support us. I spoke with one of the city council man, and the impression I got was that if we do our research, homework, get support, etc. we may be able to change the ordinance. Anybody interested in doing this together? I am reading the following site with info on how to change this: http://www.chicken-revolution.com/legalstuff.html

Any updates to this old thread? I recently moved to the area and am trying to investigate if the city/county will let me have chickens. Thanks!

County, yes (Gwinnett changed their ordinances last year, so number of chickens allowed is based on lot size. Chickens must be contained, and no roosters). City, I couldn't tell you. Unfortunately a lot of cities have ordinances against chickens, and city overrules county law. It took me ages and ages of digging to even find the laws for my own city-the fast way to find out is to actually call your city hall. They can either answer the question for you or point you in the direction of who can help you!

Good luck!