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BEN HILL COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – Ben Hill County leaders are responding to growing questions surrounding the newly adopted Residential Keeping of Fowl ordinance, which now allows certain residents to keep chickens and other fowl in specific residential zones.

According to the Ben Hill County Board of Commissioners, fowl had previously been prohibited in all residential zoning districts — including R-R, R-1, R-22, M-R, R-15, R-9, R-6, and R-6-M. Keeping chickens was only permitted in General Farming (G-F) zones, and that policy remains unchanged.

However, after receiving multiple requests and noting that the City of Fitzgerald already allows residents to keep fowl within city limits, commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance consistent with the city’s code. The goal, officials say, is to create uniformity between the city and county while addressing the growing interest in backyard poultry.

“This change simply provides consistency,” county officials explained. “We didn’t see a reason for the county to be more restrictive than the city, especially since many residents already have chickens.”

Residents are encouraged to check their property’s zoning classification on the county’s GIS mapping system and review the full ordinance on the Ben Hill County website before keeping any fowl.

For questions about the ordinance or zoning in general, contact Ben Hill County Planning and Zoning at (229) 426-5100 and ask to speak with Jake Hughes or Hampton Raulerson.

Links to the ordinance and county zoning map can be found here.

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