[9-21-2022 by Ord. 1782]
The purpose of this Chapter is to ensure that the keeping, raising, and maintenance of animals and bees within the city does not create an adverse impact on adjacent properties by reason of dust, fumes, noise, odor, insect or vermin infestations, or visual blight, and to maintain animal welfare and public health, safety, and well-being.
[9-21-2022 by Ord. 1782]
A. 
The keeping of exotic or wild animals shall not be permitted in any zone in accordance with Article 2 (Zone Regulations).
B. 
Domestic animals are allowed in all zones where residential uses are allowed subject to the following standards:
1. 
Up to four dogs or cats or a combination, over four months of age.
2. 
An unlimited number of small birds, fish, or nonpoisonous reptiles, provided they do not become a public nuisance due to odors, noise, or public health considerations.
3. 
Up to four domesticated rodents, provided they do not become a public nuisance due to odors, noise, or public health considerations.
C. 
The number of large and small livestock in residential zones is established in Table 4.04.02-1 (Number of Animals Permitted by Lot Area). Refer to Table 2.02.02-1 (Allowed Uses — Residential Zones) to determine in what residential zones large and small livestock may be kept:
TABLE 4.04.02-1: NUMBER OF ANIMALS PERMITTED BY LOT AREA
Type of Animal
Maximum Number of Animals Permitted per Lot Size
8,000 sq. ft. — 12,999 sq. ft.
13,000 sq. ft. — 19,999 sq. ft.
20,000 sq. ft. — 43,559 sq. ft.
43,560 sq. ft. — 87,119 sq. ft.
> 87,120 sq. ft.
"ft" = Feet and "sf" = Square Feet
Equine and Large Livestock
Cattle, Swine, Llamas, Alpacas, Goats, Sheep, and Other Livestock Not Prohibited By This Chapter
0
0
21
41
Max. 5
Horses, Mules, and Donkeys
0
0
2
4
Max. 4 per acre
Small Livestock and Poultry
Goats (miniature, pygmy, dwarf)
2
2
4
8
Max. 10
Poultry and Rabbits
5
10
15
20
Max. 25
End Note:
1.
Max. 1 animal per 20,000 square feet gross lot area.
1. 
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: 12 months) and are not subject to the maximum number of animals allowed in Table 4.04.02-1 (Number of Animals Permitted by Zone).
2. 
Standards for Large Livestock.
a. 
Shelters for large livestock must be located:
i. 
No less than 75 feet from any dwelling unit.
ii. 
No less than 50 feet from any property line.
b. 
At least 10,000 square feet of pasture must be made available for each large livestock animal.
3. 
Additional Standards for Horse Corrals are as follows:
a. 
Horse corrals shall be a minimum of 300 square feet for the first horse and an additional 200 square feet for each additional horse.
b. 
Horse corral fences shall be at least five feet in height and constructed securely to confine the horses.
c. 
The corral and stable areas shall be sprinkled or otherwise treated so as to prevent dust, and all accumulation of manure, mud, or refuse shall be eliminated so as to prevent the breeding of flies.
d. 
Stables shall be provided consisting of structures with weatherproof roofs with an area of 60 square feet for the first horse and an additional 36 square feet for each additional horse.
e. 
Enclosed box stalls shall be a minimum of 12' x 12' per horse.
4. 
Standards for Small Livestock and Poultry.
a. 
Male dwarf or pygmy goats must be neutered and dehorned by four months of age.
b. 
Shelters and fenced enclosures for housing, keeping, or caring for small livestock must:
i. 
Be located no less than 10 feet from any property line and at least 20 feet from the nearest neighboring dwelling.
ii. 
Have a minimum of four square feet of indoor space per poultry or rabbit.
iii. 
Have a minimum of 10 square feet of permeable outdoor space per poultry or rabbit.
iv. 
Have a minimum of 130 square feet of permeable space per dwarf or pygmy goat.
5. 
Maintenance.
All livestock and the pens, stalls, stables, yards, shelters, cages, and premises where they are held or kept shall be maintained in such a manner so as to not become a public health nuisance. Livestock shelters and runs must be clean and sanitary, generally free of fecal and other matter that may attract flies, rodents, or cause an offensive odor that can be detected beyond the property line. Nothing in this Subsection shall be deemed to prohibit the use of animal manure or droppings to fertilize any farm, garden, lawn, or ranch in such a manner and for such purposes as are compatible with customary methods of good horticulture.
6. 
Feeding.
Feeding of livestock shall be done exclusively from containers (e.g., a trough) or on an impervious platform. Food for feeding livestock shall be stored in rodent and predator-resistant containers. The area where livestock are fed must be located a minimum of 20 feet from any dwelling.
7. 
Water.
Watering troughs or tanks shall be provided and shall be equipped with adequate facilities for draining the overflow so as to prevent the ponding of water, the breeding of flies, mosquitoes, or other insects, or any additional health hazards. Watering troughs must be located a minimum of 20 feet from any dwelling.
8. 
Shelters.
Shelters must be covered, predator-resistant, properly ventilated, and designed to be easily accessed, cleaned, and maintained.
9. 
Water Runoff.
All animal-keeping facilities must be designed in a manner such that water runoff does not become a health hazard or nuisance to uses on other properties and is contained and disposed of and does not contribute to the pollution of local groundwater or the flooding of adjacent properties.
10. 
Noise.
No person shall keep or harbor any animal which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing, or the making of any other noise, day or night, unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of any person or persons.
11. 
Incineration.
No incineration of animal refuse shall be permitted on the premises.
12. 
Manure Storage and Removal.
a. 
Removal of manure must occur no less than once a month or as necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors to the area.
b. 
Manure shall be stored within enclosures built expressly for this purpose. Manure storage containers shall be setback a minimum of 50 feet from any perimeter property line.
c. 
Any condition that results in odors, unsightly areas, or infestation shall be deemed a public nuisance and/or health hazard and shall be abated within seven days of proper notice.
D. 
The keeping of all animals must comply with all applicable local, State, and Federal regulations.
E. 
Any increase in the number of large and small livestock in residential zones shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission through a Conditional Use Permit (see Section 6.04.04 (Use Permits)). The Planning Commission shall make findings that the requested increase does not create impacts on adjacent properties that cannot be mitigated.
[9-21-2022 by Ord. 1782]
A. 
The following standards provide for the safe and orderly keeping of bees.
1. 
Beekeeping is allowed in the DE-1, DET-3, and SN-4 zones. The principal use of the property on which beehives are kept must be residential, institutional, or educational.
2. 
Beehives shall only be located in rear yards and shall be placed a minimum of 20 feet from any property line, except that in the DE-1 and DET-3 zoning beehives also may be placed in the interior side yards. In all zones the entrance to the beehive shall face away from the property line closest to the hive.
3. 
A flyway barrier shall be established and maintained so that all bees are forced to fly at an elevation of at least six feet above ground level in the vicinity of the beehive. Any fence, wall, or natural barrier proposed as a flyway barrier shall comply with the provisions of Section 3.02.10 (Fences, Walls and Screening), as well as the following:
a. 
Be a minimum of six feet tall;
b. 
Be solid such that bees cannot fly through it;
c. 
Be placed parallel to the property line; and
d. 
Extend a minimum of five feet beyond the beehive(s) in each direction.
4. 
A convenient source of water shall be made available for the bees at all times of the year so that bees are less likely to congregate at swimming pools, pet watering bowls, bird baths, or other water sources.
5. 
In any instance in which a bee colony exhibits unusually defensive characteristics by stinging or attempting to sting without provocation or exhibits an unusual disposition toward swarming, beekeepers shall promptly re-queen the colony with another marked queen. Queens shall be selected with a gentle disposition from stock bred for gentleness and non-swarming characteristics. An owner/keeper of a beehive must be able to produce proof of a receipt from a queen breeder.
[9-21-2022 by Ord. 1782]
A. 
Purpose.
The purpose of this subsection is to protect the public health, safety, general welfare, and quality of life in the city. The City Council finds that backyard breeding of dogs and cats to potentially be incompatible with surrounding uses in any residential zone of the city because of the noise and odors associated therewith. In addition, the City Council finds that backyard breeding contributes to the stray animal population of the city. Furthermore, the City Council finds that backyard breeding often contributes to unhealthy and inhumane conditions for dogs and cats in the city.
B. 
Prohibition.
Unless conducted by a licensed breeder, backyard breeding is prohibited on any residentially zoned property in the city, except as allowed as an accessory use in the DE-1, DET-3, and SN-4 zones as stipulated in Article 2 (Zone Regulations), and no person shall establish or operate a backyard breeding operation on any residentially zoned property.
C. 
Backyard Breeding Standards.
No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored, or kept within the city to breed without first obtaining a Riverside County unaltered dog license for dogs and a City business license for the breeding of either dogs or cats. Backyard breeding of dogs or cats shall only be conducted by a reputable breeder and is subject to the following:
1. 
A reputable residential breeder must obtain a City business license and shall not allow the whelping or queening of more than one litter per business license within any 12-month period. Within 30 days of each litter, the reputable residential breeder shall notify the City of the date and the number of dogs or cats in the litter.
2. 
A reputable residential breeder must obtain a State of California sellers permit.
3. 
No offspring may be sold, adopted, bartered, or otherwise transferred until it has reached the age of at least eight weeks.
4. 
No offspring may be sold or adopted until properly immunized against common disease. The sale or adoption of a dog or cat shall include a statement signed by the seller attesting to the signatory's knowledge of the animal's health and the animal's immunization history.
5. 
Any person who advertises the availability of any dog or cat for sale, adoption, or transfer, whether for compensation or otherwise, must prominently display the business license in any such advertisement. Further, the business license number shall be provided to any person who purchases, adopts, or receives any animal and placed on any receipt of sale.
6. 
Any person conducting backyard breeding activity shall be subject to inspection by the City or parties commissioned by the City to conduct such.
7. 
Any person selling or otherwise transferring a dog or cat, shall provide to the new animal owner City application(s) for a license and permit, as well as written information regarding the license and permit requirements of the City and Riverside County Animal Control applicable to such animal.
8. 
The number of animals kept shall comply with the standards established in Section 4.04.02 (Standards).
D. 
Violation and Enforcement.
Any violation of this Section is a misdemeanor and a public nuisance. The nuisance may be enjoined or otherwise abated by the City in the manner described in Section 10.21 of the Indio Municipal Code and any other applicable provision of state or local law.