"Birds"
means canary, parakeet, finch, pigeon, dove or other bird
normally raised as a household pet.
"Fish"
means goldfish, tropical fish and other such fish customarily
maintained in a household aquarium, except piranhas.
"Fowl"
means chicken, duck, goose, turkey or other bird normally
raised for meat or egg production.
"Large animal"
means horse, cow, sheep, goat, donkey or similar animal which
is normally housed in a corral or stable.
"Small animal"
means rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, mouse, white rat or similar
animal that is normally raised as a pet and housed in a cage or pen.
"Wild or exotic animal"
means any animal which occurs naturally in the State of California
or cannot be legally bought or sold in the State of California or
requires special permitting by the California Department of Fish and
Game or the United States Department of Agriculture.
(Prior code § 4.36; 98-03)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to animals, fowl
or birds under four months of age, or to pet or animal shops or stores
or for training or research purposes at educational institutions or
hospitals.
(Prior code § 4.38)
A. The
keeping of large animals shall be permitted only on a lot with a minimum
net area of twenty thousand square feet, with one animal allowed for
the first twenty thousand square feet, and one for each additional
fifteen thousand square feet up to a maximum of four animals.
1. Large
animals shall be kept in a fenced corral area of at least five hundred
seventy-six square feet for each animal. The corral and stable shall
be located not less than fifty feet from all neighboring dwellings.
2. An
overhead cover to screen direct sunlight, wind and rain shall be provided
to serve all of the large animals which are maintained on the property;
it shall be of such construction that it is waterproof and will not
be damaged by wind or rain.
3. Any
effects such as odors, dust, and flies which may be created from the
keeping of such animals shall not be detectable from adjacent properties.
4. Animal stock shall not generate noise in a substantially continuous manner in the daytime or nighttime to the annoyance of people within the neighborhood. Such a disturbance may be declared a nuisance, which may be abated by the procedures provided in Chapter
6.12 of this Code.
5. The
enclosure and barn areas shall be of an appropriate size and type
to accommodate the type of animal, and shall be maintained in a neat
and orderly manner.
B. Not more than three fowl (except as noted in Section
6.20.090) shall be kept or maintained on any single-family residential property as defined in the zoning code of the City. There shall be no prescribed limit to the number of birds (except pigeons), fish, reptiles, amphibians or small animals permitted on any property, provided that such animals are not used for commercial purposes. Pigeons shall be limited to twenty-four on any single-family residential property except as may otherwise be allowed under Section
6.20.090.
(Prior code § 4.37; 87-10)
No large animals, fowl, pigeons, or doves may be maintained
in any residence in the City other than in a single-family residence.
(Prior code § 4.39)
Under no circumstances shall any animal of the swine family
be kept or maintained on any property in the City.
(Prior code § 4.40)
The provisions of Section
6.16.030 notwithstanding, under no circumstances shall any rooster be kept or maintained on any property in the City.
(Prior code § 4.41)
No person shall own or keep any animal that is dangerous or
a menace to the public or an individual. Upon a finding by the court
that such animal is dangerous or a menace, it is unlawful for any
person to keep, or cause to be kept, such animal within the City.
Any license or permit pertaining to such animal shall be revoked.
Unless such animal is removed from the City within 24 hours after
the court finds the animal to be dangerous or a menace, such animal
shall be summarily destroyed by the sheltermaster in accordance with
State law.
(Prior code § 4.42; 98-03)
Except as provided in Sections
6.20.030 and
6.20.090, no species of animals defined as wild or exotic shall be kept or maintained on any property within the City. This section is to be construed liberally in determining which animals fall within the prohibition.
(Prior code § 4.44; 98-03)
A. The
sheltermaster may issue a yearly permit for wild or exotic animals
provided the owner or custodian has all relevant permits from the
California Department of Fish and Game and the United States Department
of Agriculture. The application for permit shall have attached thereto:
1. A
veterinarian certificate attesting to the health of each animal;
2. A
list of the type and number of animals to be covered by the permit;
3. Purpose
of keeping such animals, with particular emphasis on the knowledge
of such person about the animals and experience of such person in
handling the animals in question;
4. A
detailed description of the quarters in which the animal will be kept;
5. Circumstances,
if any, under which the animals will be removed from quarters;
6. Name
and address of applicant and other person to be placed in charge of
the animals;
7. Current
California Fish and Game and United States Department of Agriculture
Permits.
B. After
review of all information available to him or her, including information
on the permit application, the sheltermaster may issue a permit for
the keeping of such animals. The animals must not in the opinion of
the sheltermaster constitute a danger or nuisance to the general public.
C. The
permit may be issued for a period of one year upon payment of a fifty
dollar ($50.00) fee. Renewal permits need not be subject to the application
procedures unless additional animals have been added or the purpose
of the animal keeping has substantially changed since the permit was
last issued.
(Prior code § 4.45; 98-03)
Where an animal is regulated by federal or state laws which require the payment of a permit fee or license fee, there shall be no permit fee required under the provisions of Section
6.20.090.
(Prior code § 4.46)
No person shall ride or drive or cause, permit, or allow any
horse or any animal to be ridden or driven upon any sidewalk, paved
portion of a street or any portion of the public right-of-way which
has been landscaped with grass, flowers, or shrubbery, or in any public
park, unless specifically provided for and so posted. This section
shall not, however, prohibit a horse or other animal from being ridden
or driven along the unpaved portion or unlandscaped portion of a public
right-of-way or from being led across a street in a designated pedestrian's
crosswalk; nor shall it be construed to prohibit a horse or other
animal from being ridden or driven across a public right-of-way where
an equestrian trail crosses that public right-of-way, nor from a stabling
area directly to an area where riding is permitted. This section shall
have no application to parades, animal shows, and other types of exhibitions
when proper permits have been obtained from the City or on an established
equestrian trail designated by the City Council.
(Prior code § 4.49)
No owner or keeper or person having custody or control of any
dog, cat or other animal shall allow or permit such animal to commit
a nuisance on any public property or any improved private property
other than that of the owner or keeper or person who has accepted
custody or control of such animal. It shall be the duty of all persons
having control of an animal to curb it in order to carry out the intent
of this section. Nuisance as used in this section shall include, but
not be limited to, urination and defecation.
(Prior code § 4.43; 00-07)
It is declared to be a nuisance and it is unlawful for any person,
either principal, agent or employee to keep or permit to be kept at
or upon any premises owned or occupied by him or her in the City any
animal enclosure in a foul, noxious, or filthy condition.
(Prior code § 4.47)
It is declared a nuisance and no person shall permit any animal,
fowl, bird, reptile or amphibian to run or fly at large or to go upon
the premises of any other person without the consent of the owner
of that property. The sheltermaster may approve certain animals, fowl,
or birds to be released for competitive or sporting purposes.
(Prior code § 4.48; 98-03)
The other provisions of this title notwithstanding, no person shall keep or permit to be kept any animal which constitutes a nuisance to either the neighborhood or the general public. Besides the nuisances specifically enumerated (Sections
6.12.180,
6.12.190,
6.12.290,
6.20.060,
6.20.110,
6.20.120 and
6.20.130), it shall be a nuisance for any person to maintain an animal in such condition so as to constitute a health hazard for either man or animal. Animals which create excessive noise, disruptive and disturbing to the neighborhood, or animals which constitute a clear threat, menace and danger to humans, shall be considered a nuisance.
(Prior code § 4.50)
Such animals as are kept and maintained prior to the adoption
of this title which are not in conformance with the terms and provisions
hereof and such animals as are kept and maintained on properties that
are not now within the corporate limits of the City which are hereafter
annexed to the City, if the keeping and maintenance of such animals
is not in conformance with the terms and provisions of this title,
the keeping and maintenance of such animals in the circumstances as
heretofore mentioned shall be terminated on the first of the following
events to occur:
A. Within
one year from the adoption of this title for all properties that are
within the corporate limits of the City and within one year after
the annexation of these properties that are hereafter annexed to the
City;
B. The
failure to keep and maintain animals on any property as such nonconforming
uses for any continuous period of six months;
C. Transfer
of the animals from the specific site of such nonconforming use to
any other site within the City;
D. Transfer
of ownership of the property upon which the nonconforming use occurs;
E. Change
of tenants upon the property upon which the nonconforming use occurs.
(Prior code § 4.51)
Procedures concerning the impoundment of livestock, fowl and other animals shall be the same as those for any animal as set forth in Chapter
6.08 of this Code.
(98-03)