Tift County staff backs minor zoning edits to kennel rules; item headed to April 8 consent agenda

Community Development Director Chris Davis told the Tift County Board of Commissioners at its April 2 workshop that proposed edits to Chapter 4 of the county Unified Development Code are minimal and intended to clarify when animal keeping constitutes a kennel.

The Planning Commission reviewed the request March 14, 2024, and recommended approval with two specific changes: amend subsection (A) so that "Keeping Animals shall be considered a kennel when one or more of the following conditions exist," and remove the word "commercial" from subsection (A)(3). "There are minimal changes," Davis said, describing the two editorial adjustments recommended by the Planning Commission.

The revisions would change how the code distinguishes ordinary animal-keeping from regulated kennels and could affect homeowners, breeders and animal boarding businesses in zoning districts that regulate kennels. The county clerk and community development staff will place the amended language on the regular meeting agenda; the board indicated it wanted the item on the consent agenda for the April 8 meeting.

If adopted, the amendment would formally alter language in Chapter 4, Section 4.03.01 of the Unified Development Code; the Planning Commission and staff recommended approval with the two edits noted above. The board did not take a final vote at the workshop; the item will return for formal action at the April 8 regular session.