The purpose of this chapter is to provide reasonable standards for the keeping and raising of animals to avoid and minimize adverse impacts on adjacent properties and preserves the City's quality and character. This chapter will allow for keeping of animals in limited numbers with reasonable controls and safeguards to protect the character of the community.
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
A. 
The requirements contained in this chapter shall apply to all animal keeping in the City of Wildomar including domestic and farm animals, kennels, catteries, horse stables, boarding and riding academies.
B. 
Any legally established nonconforming animal keeping use that became nonconforming upon adoption of this ordinance shall be permitted to continue subject to Chapter 17.20 (Legal Nonconforming Structures and Uses).
C. 
Animals may be kept on legally established lots of record that are less than the minimum lot size reference in Table 17.205.030-1 (Animal Keeping Standards) subject to compliance with setback regulations of the underlying zoning district and subject to approval by the Community Development Director.
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
Animal keeping uses allowed in Article II (Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses) shall comply with the standards listed in Table 17.205.030-1 (Animal Keeping Standards) and with all other standards and requirements of this section and with all other applicable ordinances and regulations.
Table 17.205.030-1 Animal Keeping Standards
Types of Animals
Parcel Size
Max Number of Animals
Setbacks and Standards
Aquaculture
20,000+ sq ft
1 fish per 250 gallons of tank/pool/pond
Fish must be kept in a tank/pool/pond that is no closer than 30 feet from the front property line, 15 feet from any side or rear property line and no closer than 35 feet of any dwelling unit other than the dwelling unit on the subject lot.
Hogs
0.5 to 1 acre
2
Hogs shall be kept in an enclosed area located not less than 20 feet from any property line and not less than 50 feet from any residence and shall be maintained on the rear portion of the lot in conjunction with a residential use.
1+ acres
5
Miniature Pigs
< 20,000 sq ft
1
Miniature pigs must be kept in an enclosure that is no closer than 30 feet from the front property line, 15 feet from any side or rear property line and no closer than 35 feet of any dwelling unit other than the dwelling unit on the subject lot.
10,890-19,999 sq feet
2
20,000+ sq ft
5
Equids (horses, donkeys, mules, etc.)
5 per/acre
Equids must be kept not less than 100 feet from any street and 20 feet from any property line.
Ruminants (cattle, bison, deer, antelopes, goats, sheep, etc.)
5 per/acre
Ruminants shall not be kept not less than 100 feet from any street, 20 feet from any property line, and 50 feet from any residence.
Camelids (alpacas, llamas, camels, etc.)
5 per/acre
Camelids shall not be kept not less than 100 feet from any street, 20 feet from any property line, and 50 feet from any residence.
Crowing Fowl (chickens, peafowl, roosters, turkeys, peacocks, guinea fowl, etc.)
Under 10,000 sq ft
4 crowing fowl
(females only)
The crowing fowl shall be kept in an enclosed area located not less than 10 feet from any property line and 20 feet from any dwelling unit (primary or accessory) and shall be maintained on the rear portion of the lot in conjunction with a residential use.
10,000 - 19,999 sq ft
6 crowing fowl
(females only)
20,000 - 39,999 sq ft
12 crowing fowl
(females only)
40,000+ sq ft
50 females and 10 males
Waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, etc.), Gamebirds (quail, partridges), and other Wildfowl
20,000 - 39,999 sq ft
4 fowl
The fowl shall be kept in an enclosed area located not less than 20 feet from any property line and not less than 50 feet from any residence and shall be maintained on the rear portion of the lot in conjunction with a residential use.
40,000+ sq ft
50 fowl
Other Domestic Fowl (doves, parrots, budgies, etc.)
10,000+ sq ft
50 fowl
Any enclosed aviary shall be kept not less than 20 feet from any property line and not less than 50 feet from any residence and shall be maintained on the rear portion of the lot in conjunction with a residential use.
n/a
12 fowl
Ratites (Ostriches, kiwis, rheas, emus, cassowaries, etc.)
20,000+ sq ft
3 ratites per 20,000 sq feet, maximum of 6 ratites permitted
Ratites must be kept not less than 100 feet from any street and 20 feet from any property line.
Small Animals (Rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, fish, frogs, and other small animals)
n/a
n/a
n/a
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
A. 
Kennels, with the exception of one to four dogs may be for commercial purposes, including for the raising of guard dogs, care animals, rescue animals, and breeding and boarding.
B. 
The following classes of kennels are allowed in the following zones pursuant to Table 17.205.040-1, Kennel Classes and Allowed Zoning pursuant to the following development standards:
Table 17.205.040-1 Kennel Classes and Allowed Zoning
Class of Kennels
Maximum Number of Animals per Site
Zones Allowed
Minimum Lot Size for Keeping Such Animals
No Kennel
(non-commercial)
1—4 dogs
All zones
—
Class I Kennel
5—10 dogs
R-R, R-A, R-1, R-3, R-T
1 acre (gross)
M-I
No minimum lot size
Class II Kennel/Cattery
11—25 dogs
R-R, R-A, R-T
1 acre (gross)
10—25 cats
M-I
No minimum lot size
Class III Kennel/Cattery
26—40 dogs
R-R
1 acre (gross)
26—40 cats
M-I
No minimum lot size
Class IV Kennel/Cattery
41 or more dogs or cats
R-R
1 acre (gross)
M-I
No minimum lot size
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
A. 
Class I kennels, such kennels may be placed upon parcels containing detached single-family dwelling units.
B. 
Class II kennels and all catteries shall include a single-family dwelling to be used by a live-in caretaker, as required by the City standards for kennels and catteries.
C. 
Multifamily dwelling units and attached single-family dwelling units shall not be permitted in conjunction with kennels or catteries; provided, however, that a guest dwelling or accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted in accordance with current City zoning regulations.
D. 
The applicant shall obtain and continuously maintain all necessary licenses from the Health Department.
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
Every application for a kennel or cattery shall be made in writing to the Community Development Director on forms provided by the Planning Department and shall be accompanied by the filing fee set forth in Chapter 3.44.
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
The grazing of cattle, horses, sheep, goats or other farm stock or animals (excludes hogs) shall comply with the following standards:
A. 
Includes the supplementary feeding thereof, not to exceed five animals per acre of all the land available; provided however, the systematic rotation of animals with more than five animals per acre is permitted so long as the total number of permitted animals is not exceeded.
1. 
For the grazing of sheep or goats, the permissible number of animals per acre may be multiplied by three.
2. 
There shall be no limit to the permissible number of goats or sheep which may be grazed per acre when the grazing is for the purpose of cleaning up unharvested crops or weed abatement, provided that such grazing is not conducted for more than four weeks in any six-month period.
3. 
The provisions of this subdivision apply to mature breeding stock, maintenance stock and similar farm stock, and shall not apply to the offspring thereof, if such offspring are being kept, fed or maintained solely for sale, marketing or slaughtering at the earliest practical age of maturity.
4. 
In all cases the permissible number of animals per acre shall be computed upon the basis of the nearest equivalent ratio.
5. 
Permitted on agricultural, open space and residential lots or parcels, including vacant lots without a house, over 20,000 square feet in area and 100 feet in width, provided they are kept, fed and maintained not less than 50 feet from any residence existing at the time such use is established. Two such animals may be kept on each 20,000 square feet up to one acre and two such animals for each additional acre.
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
Whenever any section of this Title requires a determination as to the maturity of animals, the following periods of time shall be used to establish the age of maturity:
Classification
Age of Maturity
Birds and poultry
6 months
Cattle
18 months
Crowing fowl
2 months
Goats
9 months
Horses
24 months
Pigs
8 months
Sheep
9 months
Other small farm animals
6 months
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)
The raising, breeding, and maintenance of domestic honeybees (apis mellifera species) in residential zones shall comply with the following standards:
A. 
Residential beekeeping shall mean the keeping or maintenance of bees as an accessory use.
1. 
Any beekeepers in a residential zone shall obtain a residential beekeeping permit from the community development department.
2. 
Each residential lot shall have no more than four bee boxes.
3. 
Bee boxes shall not exceed six feet in height.
4. 
Bee boxes must be continuously occupied by bees under the control of the permit holder.
5. 
Hives shall be located on the property in the following manner:
a. 
Bee boxes shall be located in the rear yard.
b. 
Bee boxes location shall be secured from unauthorized access.
c. 
Bee boxes shall be screened so that they cannot be seen from an adjacent public street.
6. 
It is declared a public nuisance to keep bees in a manner that through action or inaction allows for any of the following conditions to occur:
a. 
Bees exhibit defensive or objectionable behavior, or interfere with the normal use of neighboring properties.
b. 
Bees swarm and are not contained or relocated by the owner of the bees as quickly as possible, but no more than three days.
(Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)