Unincorporated DeKalb County Georgia Residents - BYC's are illegal

[MSDeb]

Welcome to BYC, enjoy your stay. Good luck!

 

[Melanie 11]

So sorry!!!! I lived in Stone Mountain (DeKalb Co) in the early 80's, I had a few hens. Someone reported me. Animal control came out and gave me a citation because my chicken was NOT on a leash

I went to court and had to pay a $35.00 tickent Carziest thing I ever heard. Has anyone ever seen a chicken on a leash??

 

[dkvart1]

so sorry to hear about what you are going through and wish you the best of luck!

Melanie, while I've never seen a chicken on a leash, you post made an image pop in my head. A little chicken harness (rhinestone studded of course), and a rather snobbish looking wealthy woman walking her down the city sidewalk as she window shops.

Don't know why that image popped in my head. Now I'm thinking about George Clooney and his pet pot bellied pig. Maybe we need to find a celebrity to lead the back yard chicken movement!

 

[spiritdance]

Quote:
I vote for Julia Roberts! She has chickens and says they're the "hardest working animals I know" because they lay "an egg a day."

 

[Attack Chicken]

from Indiana!!!!

 

[SaidBlacksmith]

We just sat down and figured out was how to legally have chickens in unincorporated Dekalb. (And by we I mostly mean my partner.) And I'm going to share that with you- I'd print it all out and keep it handy- if not posted on your coop for folks that might complain.

This is the link to the Dekalb County RESIDENTIAL zoning ordinances. The 2 Acre Law is based on commercial zoning.

This link applies to my lot: Sec 27-183.d :
The following principal uses of land and structures shall be authorized in the R-75 (Single-family Residential) District:

(a)Detached single-family dwelling.
(b) Personal care home, family.
(c) Personal care home, registered.
(d) Agriculture uses as follows:
(1) Keeping of pigeons (See section 5-17).
(2) Livestock.
(3) Riding stable.

Then go to either the tax assessor's web site or call 404.687.3700 and give them your address and they will tell you what your property is zoned as (though I'd recommend going down to the office and getting a hard copy to show anyone that might show up to complain).

This link helps explain the factors that go into what the zoning requirements are:

Also, consider joining this page because there are a lot more locally pertinent info on it, also, a lot of updates about the HB 842 that will hopefully be passed one day that will allow everyone in Ga the right to urban farming (it made it to the house floor, but hasn't gone up for vote yet.)

http://www.meetup.com/chickens/

Good Luck!

 

[Chickencoop1996]

 

[Desert Rooster]

Hello

from Hesperia,CA and

 

[suntex01]

Any follow up as to what did OP have to do in the end?

 

[Wild Prime]

from Idaho!