Chapter 6.15
KEEPING OF CERTAIN ANIMALS

Sections:

6.15.010    Keeping of certain animals and fowl – Generally.

6.15.020    Nearness to dwelling.

6.15.025    Roosters.

6.15.030    Cows, horses, etc.

6.15.040    Keeping of horses – Restrictions.

6.15.050    Cleaning and maintenance of corrals, barns and stables, etc.

6.15.060    Sanitary conditions.

6.15.070    Quantity of animals.

6.15.010 Keeping of certain animals and fowl – Generally.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any equine animal, any bovine animal, any sheep, hog or goat, any live hare, rabbit, chicken, duck, turkey, goose, pigeon or other fowl except as provided in this chapter.

(b) Any person maintaining any such animal or fowl within the city shall keep the premises upon which such is kept fenced, or if such animal is staked, so as to keep the animal or fowl from leaving the premises upon which such is kept, and shall not permit such animal or fowl to run at large upon the street or upon the property of any other person. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.020 Nearness to dwelling.

(a) No person shall keep any live hare, rabbit, chicken, turkey, goose, duck, pigeon, game bird or other fowl or exotic animal within fifty (50) feet of any dwelling unit other than the dwelling unit of the owner of such animal or fowl, without a permit.

(b) The permit mentioned in subsection (a) of this section shall be issued by the housing coordinator, and only when he finds that each such animal may be maintained at such location without injury to its health and the health and safety of any person. If the housing coordinator does not so find and is not satisfied that the animal may be so maintained without injury to its health and the health and safety of any person, no such permit shall be issued. The failure of the applicant to present concurrently with an application for such permit, written approval of an adult person from each dwelling unit any part of which is within fifty (50) feet in any direction of the proposed location of any such animal where the dwelling unit provides housing for an adult, may in itself provide sufficient cause to deny issuance of the permit.

(c) The permit shall be issued by the housing coordinator only after he/she is assured to his/her satisfaction that each such animal will be maintained at such location in compliance with the following conditions:

(1) Housing facilities for animals shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect animals from injury.

(2) Sanitary condition of all animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall comply with SCCC 6.15.050.

(3) Animal buildings and enclosures shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent the escape of animals and to provide appropriate protection from the elements.

(4) All animal buildings, cages and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper housing for animals kept therein.

(5) Each animal shall be maintained in a good healthy condition in a manner not causing injury to the health of any animal or the health and safety of any person.

(d) Said permit shall set forth whatever conditions the housing coordinator may deem necessary to assure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(e) Each permit is subject to suspension and revocation whenever an animal is maintained in such a manner that any of the conditions of subsection (c) of this section is violated and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2.115 SCCC.

(f) In case of denial, suspension or revocation of each such permit, the application for the permit and the permit holder shall be advised of rights to appeal provided in Chapter 2.115 SCCC. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.025 Roosters.

No rooster over four months old shall be kept on any premises within the city, unless the premises involved are operating on a commercial basis in conformance with existing zoning regulations and State statutes governing their operations. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.030 Cows, horses, etc.

No person shall keep any bovine or equine animal or any hog, sheep or goat within one hundred (100) feet of any dwelling other than the dwelling of the owner of such animal, or within fifty (50) feet of the dwelling of such owner. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.040 Keeping of horses – Restrictions.

No horse shall be kept or maintained within the city except in an enclosure the outer limits of which shall be at least forty (40) feet from any inhabited or habitable dwelling. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.050 Cleaning and maintenance of corrals, barns and stables, etc.

Every owner, lessee or tenant of any corral, barn, stable, stall or apartment in which any horse, cow or other animal is or shall be kept or of any place in which manure or any liquid discharge of any such horse, cow or other animal shall collect or accumulate, shall cause such manure or liquid to be removed and shall, at least once in every fifteen (15) days, cause such corral, barn, stable, stall or apartment to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and shall at all times keep the same in a clean and wholesome condition. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.060 Sanitary conditions.

No person shall, at any time, maintain any lot or other premises, or any portion thereof in the city, upon which any animal is kept, in an unsanitary condition. No person shall maintain any such lot or other premises, or portion thereof, upon which any animal is kept, in such condition as to cause the same to be infested with flies or insects or increase any noxious or offensive odors. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).

6.15.070 Quantity of animals.

(a) Not more than six animals, in all, including hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, feline, bovine, sheep, hogs, goat, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, game birds, or other fowl or any combination thereof shall be kept on any premises within the city, unless the premises involved are operating on a commercial basis in conformance with existing zoning regulations and State statutes governing their operations.

(b) The City Manager may allow more than six animals, but no more than twenty-five (25) animals, upon finding that the animals will be maintained in a healthy and sanitary condition, and will not be foreseeably injurious to the health, or indecent or offensive to the senses so as to unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of neighboring properties. In making this determination, the City Manager shall consider:

(1) The lot size of the premises on which the animals will be kept;

(2) Whether or not the animals will be located or housed in a manner that will eliminate views, noise or odors to the adjoining properties;

(3) The animals can be cared for in a manner that produces no noticeable noise or odor beyond the premises on which they will be kept;

(4) The animals are restricted to a portion of the premises that is not proximate to any adjoining residences;

(5) Housing facilities for animals shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect animals from injury;

(6) Sanitary condition of all animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall comply with SCCC 6.05.140;

(7) Animal buildings and enclosures shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent the escape of animals and to provide appropriate protection from the elements;

(8) All animal buildings, cages and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper housing for animals kept therein;

(9) Each animal shall be maintained in a good healthy condition in a manner not causing injury to the health of any animals or the health and safety of any person; and

(10) Said permit shall set forth whatever conditions the City Manager may deem necessary to assure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(c) At least ten days before making a decision on whether or not to allow more than six animals, the City Manager shall mail a notice by first class United States mail addressed to the addresses of all residential parcels located within fifty (50) feet of the boundaries of the premises where the animals would be kept. The notice shall describe the nature of the exception being requested and the street address of the property where the animals would be kept. The notice shall further advise the recipients that they must contact the City Manager within ten days from the date the notice was mailed with any concerns they may have about the requested exception in writing or by telephone at an address and telephone number provided in the notice.

(d) At the end of the ten-day period, and no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the request for more than six animals, the City Manager shall render his or her decision, which shall be final.

(e) Any exception granted pursuant to this section may be revoked by the City Manager upon finding that the additional animals are not being maintained in a healthy or sanitary condition, or are creating a condition that constitutes a public nuisance. At least ten days prior to revoking any approval for more than six animals, the City Manager shall notify the owner of the animals, by first class United States mail, of his/her intention to consider revocation of the approval, and the basis for that revocation. The notice shall also set forth an address and telephone number at which the owner can contact the City Manager, and shall advise the owner that if the owner opposes the revocation, the owner must contact the City Manager within ten days from the date the letter was mailed. The City Manager’s decision on the revocation shall be final. (Ord. 1879 § 1, 3-29-11).