Spalding County planners propose new AR‑1 livestock rules, carve out commercial poultry, swine and dairy for special review

Spalding County planning staff on Wednesday described proposed revisions to Article 5 (AR‑1) of the county zoning code that would narrow the blanket term “agriculture,” set limits on livestock for small lots and subdivisions, and require special exceptions for large commercial poultry, swine and dairy operations.

The changes were presented by David (staff member) as an attempt to balance “not having a bunch of excess on the smaller properties” while preserving subsistence agriculture. David said the current code’s single-word use of “agriculture” covers everything from backyard gardens to large poultry barns and that the draft revisions aim to clarify that range.

Under the proposal, gardens and crop growing would remain permitted on lots of any size; by contrast, livestock and poultry would be restricted inside “classic” subdivisions with interior streets. David said livestock and poultry present on properties before the ordinance’s adoption date would be grandfathered and not regulated by the new standards.

The draft distinguishes “large livestock” (cows, hogs, llamas, emus, donkeys and similar animals) from “small livestock and poultry.” For large livestock, the draft would prohibit horses on lots under 3 acres, permit a maximum of two of each large-livestock type on…