GA · verified 2026-10-21
South Fulton, GA
Short answerYes: the City of South Fulton code allows up to 75 chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or similar fowl per premises; the cited code does not mention roosters; the cited code does not mention a permit; and the coop setback is 100 ft.
Buying notes for backyard hens inside the City of South Fulton corporate limits. HOA covenants and county rules outside city limits can differ.
Heads up: These rules apply inside the City of South Fulton corporate limits only. An HOA or neighborhood covenant can still ban hens. Those private rules are usually not public, so HenCheck does not look them up.
Primary source: Sec. 18-1004. Unlawful housing of domestic animals and livestock.
At a glance
- Hen cap
- Up to 75 chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or similar fowl per premises
- Roosters
- Not addressed in the cited code
- Permit & fee
- Code does not mention a permit
- Setback
- 100 ft
Code cite: Sec. 18-1004. Unlawful housing of domestic animals and livestock.
The rule, quoted
Word for word from Sec. 18-1004. Unlawful housing of domestic animals and livestock.
How many hens
“Except in the areas zoned for agriculture, the maximum number of domestic animals or livestock that may be kept on any single premises shall not exceed the following.”
The table in Sec. 18-1004 sets 75 as the maximum for "Chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, or similar fowl" combined on one premises.
Sec. 18-1004. Unlawful housing of domestic animals and livestock.
Roosters
The cited code section does not mention roosters. Ask the city before you keep one.
Permit and fee
Code does not mention a permit. Ask the city whether a permit is needed before you buy birds.
Setback / screening
“A domestic animal or livestock shall be kept at the following minimum distances from any occupied building, except the dwelling unit of the owner.”
The table sets 100 ft for chickens and other fowl. It is measured to any occupied building other than your own home, not to the property line. On a typical lot this can rule out chickens, so measure first.
Coop and run size
“Except in an area zoned for agriculture, each domestic animal or livestock shall be provided with the following average minimum floor or ground area in the enclosure or housing in which it is kept.”
Also in this section
“Any housing or enclosure used by any domestic animal or livestock shall be well-drained, free from accumulations of animal excrement and objectionable odors and otherwise clean and sanitary.”
What to buy
Named products and shops are real. Confirm stock, shipping, and that the vet still sees poultry before you spend money.
Shared Atlanta, GA metro list: same stores for every city in this metro.
Hatchery
Cackle Hatchery
Ships live chicks to Georgia via USPS Priority Mail. Cackle's FAQ lists Georgia among the states it ships to, with chicks going out Mondays and Wednesdays from February to August and Wednesdays only from August to late October. Order sexed pullets if your city bans roosters or does not address them.
Feed store
Tractor Supply — Fairburn (#2627)
Fairburn — 8015 Senoia Rd, Fairburn, GA 30213. (770) 964-2082. Has a Feed Center. Store page lists livestock feed and farm supplies, including chicken coops, waterers and feeders.
Coop
OverEZ Medium Chicken Coop with Wooden 8 ft Chicken Run
Dimensions: Coop 50¼ in L × 52½ in W × 62¼ in H (includes nesting box), sized by OverEZ for up to 10 chickens; Wooden 8 ft run 8 ft W × 8 ft L × 6 ft 3 in H
Price: Coop $1,699.00 (Classic or Coastal finish; the Farmhouse finish was out of stock); Wooden 8 ft run $1,899.00. Prices as shown on overezchickencoop.com on 2026-10-21. OverEZ lists its smaller 5-chicken coop as out of stock.
The coop footprint is about 4.2 ft × 4.4 ft and the run is 8 ft × 8 ft, so with the coop at the end of the run plan on roughly 8 ft × 12.5 ft. Measure your setback from the cited code before you pick a spot, and check any height limit: the run is 6 ft 3 in tall. OverEZ ships coops and runs by tractor-trailer freight to the end of your driveway; homes on islands or on roads a truck cannot reach may need to pick up at a freight terminal.
Vet
Shepherd's Heart
Atlanta (mobile, house calls) — Mobile vet serving Atlanta and metro Atlanta, with no clinic address. Its services page says it sees chickens, ducks and other farm animals. Book through its website.
Verified 2026-10-21 against Sec. 18-1004. Unlawful housing of domestic animals and livestock. at https://library.municode.com/ga/south_fulton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PT2COOR_TIT18ANCO_CH1GE_S18-1004UNHODOANLI. Read the live code before you build or order birds.