06/03/2026
The following updates to the animal ordinance were approved by at the 6/1/2026 Wayne Count Commissioners Meeting.
6-6 Mobile home parks, apartments and condominiums or townhouses.
(e) The distance from which any animal(s) owned by a resident will considered “at-large” is 15 feet from the edge of the structure in which they reside unless such distance is limited by proximity to other structures. If the distance of 15 feet is impeded by another residence then half the distance between those residences shall be recognized as the “at-large” limit.
6-8 NUISANCES
(c) Individual ownership of any animal(s) at any address within this county will be recognized when the feeding and/or care of an animal(s) exceeds 10 calendar days.
6-15 CATS
(a) It shall be a violation of this ordinance to feed stray and/or feral cats upon property which is not individually owned by the person(s) residing where the feeding occurs. This includes but is not limited to rental and lease properties upon which the owner of the property is not the individual living there, whether payment is received for such tenancy or not.
(b) All feral cat colonies must be managed by an individual recognized by Wayne County Animal Management as the colony manager whose name, phone number, and address are on record with said office. No colony shall be allowed to become a nuisance to the surrounding neighbor hood at anytime as defined by this ordinance or as determined through investigation by Wayne County Animal Management. No excessive refuse, trash, or debris will be left at the colony site over 48 hours once feeding or maintenance has been completed.
(c) All cats within the colony must be within 30 days of colony placement:
1) Spayed or Neutered
2) Vaccinated
3) Ear-tipped
4) Documented by the colony manager as a colony cat in a manner which can prove that cat belongs within that colony.
(d) Feral cats of unknown origin, as defined by this ordinance, may be trapped and removed by property owners in accordance with O.C.G.A. 4-8-5.
Insert new (a) and (b) and renumber subsequent paragraphs accordingly
6.9 Animals Running At Large – Impoundment
(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner, possessor, custodian or harborer of any animal to fail to keep any animal that is within the geographical boundaries of Wayne County under restraint or control as provided for in this Section.
(b) An animal is considered not under restraint or control when it is running at large, regardless of whether it is or is not wearing a collar and tag. Reasonable care and precaution must be taken to prevent any animal from leaving the real property of its owner, possessor, custodian, or harborer, and to further ensure that:
1: The animal is securely and humanely enclosed within a house, building, fence, pen or other enclosure out of which it cannot climb, dig, jump, or otherwise escape on its own volition, and that such enclosure is securely locked at any time the animal is left unattended; or
2: The animal is securely and humanely restrained by an operable and effective invisible containment system. When using an invisible containment system, a sign must be posted on each side of the property upon which the animal has access too, and from which a reasonable person might enter the property for a given purpose, indicating that such a system is in place and an animal is present on the property. Failure to place a sign indicating a barrier fence in place will result in a fine of $100.
3: The animal is tied or constrained by an adequate and humane restraint system capable of preventing the animal from escaping the property of its owner, possessor, custodian or harborer; or the animal is on a leash and under the control of a competent person.
