---
title: O.C.G.A. § 4-8-1. Minimum standards for control of dogs.
collection: code
id: 4-8-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 4-8-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-8-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-8-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-8-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t4-6-(v4)-2013-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c0a1199_0#page=100
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.
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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: ANIMALS / DOGS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 4-8-1. Minimum standards for control of dogs.

It is the intention of this chapter to establish as state law minimum standards for the control and regulation of dogs and to establish state crimes for violations of such minimum standards. However, this chapter shall not prohibit local governments from adopting and enforcing ordinances or resolutions which provide for more restrictive control and regulation of dogs than the minimum standards provided for in this chapter.

## History

Code 1981, § 4-8-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 1290, § 1/HB 685.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2012, p. 1290, § 1/HB 685, effective July 1, 2012, redesignated former Code Section 4-8-1 as present Code Section 4-8-1.1.

Ga. L. 2012, p. 1290, § 6/HB 685, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that this Code section shall apply to proceedings for the classification and registration of dogs which are pending on July 1, 2012, as well as to such proceedings which arise on or after July 1, 2012.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2012 enactment of this Code section, see 29 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 180 (2012).

## Effective Date

This Code section became effective July 1, 2012. See the editor’s note for applicability.