These regulations are intended to establish standards and conditions regarding the permitted number, type, and location of animals to be kept on individual properties to ensure the preservation of a safe, sanitary, healthy and pleasant living environment, the compatibility of animal keeping with other permitted land uses, and the protection of property values. (Note: Animal control regulations are established in Title 6 of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code.)
A. 
All animals, including chickens and other fowl, with the exception of dogs and cats shall be properly caged or housed and must be kept in their corrals, barns, pens or other enclosures.
B. 
Dogs shall be kept on a leash or confined on private property at all times and shall not be allowed to run at large.
C. 
Cats need not be kept under restraint unless their liability constitutes a public nuisance or a hazard to the public health, safety, or welfare.
D. 
Proper sanitation shall be maintained at all times. All animal or poultry food shall be stored in metal or other rodent-proof containers.
E. 
Location of Enclosures for Animals. No pen, coup, stable, barn, kennel, corral, or other similar enclosure for the keeping of animals or poultry shall be erected, placed or maintained:
1. 
a. 
Within forty feet of any dwelling other than that occupied by the owner of the animals.
b. 
Exception. Dog shelters or dog houses and other cages, coops, or pens which do not exceed six feet in height and which contain no more than three small farm animals such as rabbits, doves, bantam chickens, or household animals as specified in Section 18.16.030(B) may be located anywhere behind a dwelling but may be no closer than twenty feet from any dwelling other than that occupied by the owner of the animals.
2. 
a. 
Within five feet of any side or rear lot line.
b. 
Exception. Household animals as specified in Section 18.16.030(B) and small farm animals as specified in Section 18.16.040 may be located anywhere behind a dwelling if:
i. 
They are at least twenty feet from any dwelling other than that occupied by the owner of the animals;
ii. 
They are separated from other dwellings and adjacent properties by a solid six-foot-high fence or wall.
3. 
Within twenty-five feet of any side street lot line and fifty feet of any front lot line. In no case shall any such animal enclosure be placed between the front lot line and a primary building.
F. 
Any animal not specifically classified within this chapter shall be classified by the planning director, based upon a determination as to the probable impact of the proposed animal keeping.
G. 
As classified in this chapter, only domestic animals may be permitted in nonresidential zoning districts.
H. 
Dogs, cats, other household animals, small and large farm animals which are made nonconforming as a consequence of this chapter, whether through excessive numbers or ineligible district, may remain on the property for the life of the animal, so long as such animals do not constitute a nuisance. Such nonconforming animals shall not be increased in numbers, replaced or substituted at any time. Violation of these conditions may be cause for immediate abatement.
I. 
Animal Raising Projects. Conditional use permits may be issued to youths involved in animal raising projects sponsored by 4-H, FFA, or similar youth organizations involved in animal raising. Subject to the conditions imposed to permit the findings required by Section 17.28.050(B), minor exceptions to the restrictions of this chapter may be granted.
J. 
On any property which is zoned for residential use or which is primarily used for residential purposes, only animals which are owned by the resident of such property may be kept.
K. 
Public nuisance provisions within Section 6.04.430 shall be applicable to animals and insects referenced in this chapter.
(Ord. 439 § 2, 2016)
A. 
Dogs and Cats.
1. 
Commonly kept cats and dogs are permitted to be kept upon lots used primarily for residential purposes. Not more than one dog and two cats are permitted to be kept upon any lot developed with an office, business or other commercial or industrial uses for the primary purpose of protecting the premises from varmints and trespassers. On commercial or industrial properties with an area greater than fifteen thousand square feet, one additional dog may be kept.
2. 
Within the residential low and low/medium zoning districts, dogs and cats may be kept as follows:
a. 
On lots less than or equal to twelve thousand five hundred full square feet of lot area: either two dogs; or four cats; or a combination of four such animals, provided that there shall be no more than two dogs per lot.
b. 
On lots over twelve thousand five hundred full square feet of lot area: either four dogs; or six cats; or a combination of seven such animals, provided that there shall be no more than four dogs per lot.
3. 
Within the residential medium and medium/high districts, one dog, and two cats may be kept per dwelling unit.
4. 
The offspring born of such animals which increase the total number upon the premises beyond the numbers permitted shall be removed from the lot not later than sixteen weeks from birth.
B. 
Other Household Animals. Other animals which are neither farm animals, exotic animals or cats and dogs such as domestic mice, domestic rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, tropical fish, canaries, para-keets and similar birds, may be kept upon any lot in any district where the principal use upon such lot is a residential use, so long as such animals are not maintained for commercial purposes, do not constitute a nuisance, and are afforded food, care and sanitary facilities. Such household animals shall not exceed fifteen upon any one lot (excluding fish). Not more than three parrots, macaws, mynah birds, or similar large or noisy birds may be kept. (Refer to Section 18.16.040(B) concerning keeping of small farm animals such as rabbits and doves as household pets.)
C. 
Commercial Activities. Dogs, cats and other household pets are permitted as primary uses within commercial businesses such as retail pet shops, animal hospitals, and kennels, according to the appropriate city ordinances regulating these businesses.
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, "small farm animals" means and includes rabbits, chickens, geese, ducks, pigeons, doves, other fowl and poultry and other similar animals.
B. 
Within the residential medium and medium/high zoning districts up to three rabbits or doves considered as pets, and kept in small enclosures, are permitted per dwelling unit.
C. 
Within the residential low and residential low/medium districts, small farm animals are permitted as follows:
1. 
One rabbit, pigeon, dove, quail, or chicken per full one thousand square feet of lot area, not to exceed a total of twenty-five such animals in combination per lot; or
2. 
Not more than two geese, ducks, turkeys, or other similar permitted fowl or poultry per full fifteen thousand square feet of lot area, same or in combination. No ducks, geese, or turkeys are permitted on a lot with an area less than fifteen thousand square feet.
3. 
Not more than one rooster per full ten thousand square feet of lot area.
4. 
A maximum of one hundred racing or homing pigeons may be kept and exercised on a lot or building site of not less than one-half acre in area, provided than when racing or homing pigeons are kept in combination with other small animals as permitted by this chapter, and subject to the maximum numbers specified in this chapter, such combination of racing or homing pigeons and other small animals shall not exceed one hundred.
D. 
The offspring born of such animals which increases the total number upon the premises beyond the numbers permitted shall be removed from the lot no later than sixteen weeks after birth or hatching.
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, "large farm animals" means and shall include horses, cows, mules, swine, sheep and goats over the age of four months, and other similar animals.
B. 
Large farm animals shall be permitted only in the residential low and low/medium zoning districts.
C. 
Within the residential low and low/medium zoning districts, one horse or one cow, or one swine, or two goats, or two sheep, or one goat and one sheep shall be permitted on a lot with an area of at least fifteen thousand square feet. One additional horse, or cow or swine, or two additional goats or sheep, or one additional goat and one additional sheep shall be permitted if the lot has an area of at least twenty thousand square feet. No more than four large farm animals may be kept on any lot or building site.
D. 
Large farm animals which are being kept in residential districts at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, and which are made nonconforming as a consequence of this chapter, may remain on the lot for the life of the animal, provided that each such nonconforming animal shall be registered with the planning director. Such registration shall be made within one hundred twenty days of the effective date of said ordinance on forms available in the office of the planning department (Refer to Section 18.16.020(H)).
E. 
In addition to the conditions of Section 18.16.020(H), such nonconforming animals shall not be transferred to any other lot within the city, unless that lot meets the lot size requirements set forth in subsection C of this section and the enclosure setback restriction in Section 18.16.020(E) are followed.
F. 
Notwithstanding these regulations, any commercial dairy in operation at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter may continue to operate, and to replace dairy cattle as necessary to maintain its herd at the size existing on the effective date of said ordinance.
G. 
The offspring of large farm animals which increase the total number upon the premises beyond the numbers permitted shall be removed from the lot not later than four weeks after being weaned.
A. 
The keeping of animals considered to be members of a rare and endangered species, exotic or wild animals, including dangerous or poisonous reptiles, shall not be permitted within the city, except as provided in Section 6.04.420 of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code.
B. 
Beehives may be kept within the residential low and low/medium zoning districts subject to the following:
1. 
The beekeeper shall apply for a beekeeping permit. The permit application shall be filed on a form available from the development services department and shall be accompanied with a nonrefundable fee as established by resolution of the city council.
2. 
Up to four beehives may be permitted. Beehives shall be placed at least twenty-five feet from the exterior line of the traveled way of any public streets, at least twenty-five feet from the exterior line of any private access easement, at least fifteen feet from any side or rear lot line, and at least twenty-five feet from neighboring dwellings. For three to four hives, a one-hundred-foot separation from neighboring dwellings is required.
3. 
Beekeepers shall keep sufficient open water available near the beehives during hot and dry weather in compliance with vector control regulations.
4. 
Beehives shall be well maintained at all times.
5. 
A beehive shall be no larger than fifteen cubic feet in volume.
6. 
Only docile bee species may be permitted.
7. 
Registration with the county of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights, and Measures is required prior to beekeeping activities.
8. 
The following firefighting materials shall be maintained, in good working condition, at all times when the beehive is attended by the keeper, sufficiently near the beehive so as immediately to be available in case of fire:
a. 
A shovel; and
b. 
Either a fire extinguisher of the two and one-half-gallon water-under-pressure type or the five-gallon back-pump type or its equivalent; or a garden hose connected to a source of water.
9. 
Beehives shall be placed at least one hundred feet from the border of sensitive areas. Sensitive areas include areas where people, such as the elderly, small children, individuals with medical conditions or confined animals inhabit or frequent that are more at risk if stinging incidents were to occur. Sensitive areas are characterized by a demonstrated need for a greater safety buffer. These areas include, but are not limited to, schools, playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor sports facilities, daycare centers, senior care facilities, medical facilities, and animal-boarding facilities.
10. 
Property operators, owners, or residents who have medical reasons may apply to have their locations designated as sensitive sites. Businesses and facilities with employees who have medical reasons or where bees could cause a nuisance during normal work activities may also apply to have their locations designated as sensitive sites. The development services director may approve sites or remove sites previously approved or designated as sensitive sites upon request. Upon appeal, the city council has final discretion to approve designation of locations as sensitive sites upon review of supportive documentation.
(Ord. 439 § 2, 2016)