---
title: O.C.G.A. § 27-2-22. Wildlife rehabilitation permits.
collection: code
id: 27-2-22
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 27-2-22 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-2-22
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-2-22.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-2-22/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t27-t30-(v22)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f493d811_0#page=84
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-2.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-2-21.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-2-22.1.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: GAME AND FISH / LICENSES, PERMITS, AND STAMPS GENERALLY / HUNTING, TRAPPING, OR FISHING
---

# O.C.G.A. § 27-2-22. Wildlife rehabilitation permits.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, hold, or possess in captivity any sick or injured wildlife, except fish, without first obtaining, at no charge, a wildlife rehabilitation permit from the department; provided, however, that such permit shall only be issued to persons determined by the department, based on criteria established by regulation of the board, to be competent and capable of rehabilitating the wildlife for which a permit has been requested; provided, further, that the department shall only issue such a permit when it has determined that the issuance of the permit is in the best interest of the wildlife of this state. If such a permit is issued, the department shall prescribe the term for each such permit and may impose any conditions it determines necessary to ensure adequate public safety and to be in the best interests of the wildlife of this state.

## History

Code 1933, § 45-328, enacted by Ga. L. 1979, p. 678, § 24; Ga. L. 1993, p. 91, § 27.