GARPC - Dekalb Co., GA, Ordinance
DEKALB COUNTY GEORGIA
Sec. 5-17. Pigeons.
(a) Owners of residential property, as defined in chapter 27, shall be allowed
to raise, maintain and confine pigeons, which pigeons shall be raised, maintained
and confined for noncommercial uses. The intention of this section is to accommodate
persons owning residentially zoned property who desire to raise, maintain and
confine pigeons for a hobby.
(b) No person shall be permitted to raise, harbor, confine, contain or maintain
pigeons, on residentially zoned property, in a number in excess of two hundred
(200), except where permitted by the zoning ordinance of the county, as it presently
exists or as hereafter amended.
(c) Persons who own residentially zoned property, which property contains not
less than one and one-half (1 1/2) acres in total area, and who desire to raise,
maintain and confine pigeons in accordance with subsection (a) above may do
so, provided that:
(1) The number of pigeons kept on the premises does not exceed two hundred (200).
(2) No pigeon loft or structure designed for the confinement of pigeons shall
be constructed closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any property line of any
abutting landowner nor constructed closer than two hundred (200) feet to any
dwelling or structure of any abutting landowner which is designed, arranged
and used for the living quarters of one (1) or more persons.
(d) Persons who own residentially zoned property, which property contains not
less than one (1) acre in total area, and who desire to raise, maintain and
confine pigeons in accordance with subsection (a) of this section may do so,
provided that:
(1) The number of pigeons kept on the premises does not exceed one hundred fifty
(150); and
(2) No pigeon loft or structure designed for the confinement of pigeons shall
be constructed closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any property line of any
abutting landowner nor constructed closer than one hundred fifty (150) feet
to any dwelling or structure of any abutting landowner designed, arranged and
used for the living quarters of one (1) or more persons.
(e) Persons who own residentially zoned property less than one (1) acre and
who desire to raise, maintain and confine pigeons in accordance with subsection
(a) of this section may do so, provided that:
(1) No more than one hundred (100) pigeons shall be kept on the premises and
there shall not be kept on the premises more than twenty-five (25) pigeons over
sixteen (16) weeks of age.
(2) Any pigeon loft constructed shall be constructed in such a fashion that
no part of it is closer than twenty (20) feet to any abutting property line
of any abutting landowner nor closer than one hundred (100) feet to any structure
or dwelling unit of any abutting landowner which is designed, arranged and used
as the living quarters for one (1) or more persons.
(f) Pigeons shall be confined to the loft at all times except when released
for necessary exercise, training or racing flights, with no more than fifty
(50) percent to be released at any one (1) point in time. Domestic pigeons shall
not be allowed to linger on the property of others in such a way as to cause
damage or otherwise prevent the full enjoyment and use of the property by the
owners or tenants thereof.
(g) Any pigeon loft constructed shall have a minimum of one and one-half (1
1/2) square feet of floor space per pigeon and shall not be larger than two
hundred forty (240) square feet in total area; provided, however, the maximum
limitation shall not apply to those persons referred to in subsection (c) of
this section; but in no event shall any loft constructed contain less than the
minimum square feet of floor space per pigeon as required herein. That portion
of the pigeon loft designated as the fly pen, as the phrase is commonly understood
by individuals referred to in subsection (a) of this section, shall be constructed
so that it faces the residence of the owner.
(h) All pigeons governed by this section must be banded and shall be identified
by a band.
(i) Management and sanitation practices must be of such measure to prohibit
odors, flies, rodents, etc., at all times, regardless of weather or climatic
conditions, and shall meet local health codes. The county shall have the right
and responsibility to inspect facilities at reasonable intervals.
(Code 1976, § 4-4018)
Cross references: Development standards for structures used to contain pigeons,
§ 27-569.