A.
Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish reasonable limits related to animal keeping within residential areas. Animal keeping is considered accessory to residential use and is limited according to the provisions within this chapter. This chapter makes a distinction between household pets, exotic animals and typical livestock and larger animals.
B.
Definitions. Animal keeping means the care and maintenance of animals on private property. The listing below provides a distinction between various types of animals related to allowed use provisions in Table 17.60-A— Limits on Animals Within Residential Areas. Animal care and boarding uses are listed separately in Division III, Zoning Districts, Allowed Uses, and Development Standards, as commercial uses and are regulated in corresponding allowed use tables and are not allowed in residential districts.
1. "Domestic pets."
Small animals (no larger than the largest breed of dogs) customarily kept as pets within a dwelling unit. This classification includes dogs, cats, fish, and birds (excluding large tropical birds and poultry).
2. "Exotic animals."
Wild animals not customarily confined or cultivated by man for domestic or commercial purposes, but kept as a pet or for display, including wolf-dog hybrids, potbelly pigs, non-poisonous snakes, reptiles, and large tropical birds (including peacocks).
3. "Insects."
Small arthropod animals confined or cultivated by man for domestic purposes including but not limited to flies, crickets, mosquitoes, beetles, and butterflies.
4. "Livestock animals."
Domesticated animals that may be kept or raised in pens, barns, houses, and pastures for private use. Livestock includes, but is not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, and equine.
5. "Poultry."
Domesticated birds (fowl) customarily kept for eggs or meat. This classification includes chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, and Cornish game hens.
C.
Number of animals. The number of animals kept on any site shall not exceed the maximum number of animals allowable as set forth in Table 17.60-A—Limits on Animals Within Residential Areas.
D.
Location of animals. Consistent with Title 6, no person shall keep or permit to range any animal, fowl or bird, wild or domestic, other than cats, two dogs, aviaries or birds of the psittacinae family, within thirty-five feet of any residence or dwelling house or other building used for the habitation of human beings, or within one hundred feet from any school, hospital or similar institution.
E.
Sanitation of coops, pens, kennels, or other animal enclosures. Consistent with Title 6, no person shall keep or maintain or cause or permit to be kept or maintained for the use, restraint or confinement of any animal or fowl any yard, coop, building, structure, pasture, pen, hutch, kennel or enclosure which is in an unsanitary condition.
F.
Offspring. Young animals born to a permitted animal kept on the site may be kept until such animals are weaned (cats and dogs—four months; large animals—six months; horses—twelve months).
Table 17.60-A—Limits on Animals Within Residential Areas | ||
|---|---|---|
Type of Animal | Minimum Site Area (per animal) | Maximum Number |
Domestic Pets | ||
— Cat(s) and Dog(s) | None | 3 |
— Other household pets (fish, small birds) | None | No Maximum |
Exotic Animals | Requires use permit approval with special findings1 | |
Insects | Requires use permit approval with special findings1 | |
Livestock Animals | Requires use permit approval with special findings1 | |
1 acre | 3 | |
Poultry | Not permitted | Not permitted |
Table Notes: | |
1. | Prior to approval of a use permit, the planning commission shall make all of the following findings: |
a. | The keeping of the animal at the location specified in the application will not violate any federal, state, or local law. |
b. | Odor, noise, dust, and drainage from the keeping and maintenance of the animal will not contribute a nuisance or hazard to the public. Consistent with Section 17.50.050, no person shall keep or maintain any animal, crowing rooster or fowl which by any sound or cry annoys or disturbs persons owning, using or occupying property in the neighborhood. |
(Ord. 2015-002 § 3 (Exh. 1)(part), 2015)