Chapter 6.76
COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Sections:
6.76.010 Commercial animal establishments.
6.76.060 Reporting of dog records.
6.76.070 Sale and other transfer of dogs.
6.76.010 Commercial animal establishments.
A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to erect, establish, or maintain any commercial animal establishment without first obtaining a business license from the city, and that business license may not be issued until after inspection and approval of the conditions of the commercial animal establishment by the city and/or poundmaster according to the requirements of this chapter. Such business license shall be issued pursuant to city licensing regulations; however, the city and/or poundmaster may suspend it at any time an inspection reveals a violation of the provisions of this chapter.
B. Every person within the city who owns, conducts, manages or operates any commercial animal establishment for which a license is required shall comply with each of the following conditions:
1. Housing facilities for animals shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect animals from injury and restrict entrance of other animals.
2. All animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
3. All animals shall be supplied with sufficient good and wholesome food and water as often as the feeding habits of the respective animals require.
4. Animal buildings and enclosures shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent escape of animals.
5. All reasonable precautions shall be taken to protect the public from the animals and the animals from the public.
6. Every building or enclosure wherein animals are maintained shall be properly ventilated to prevent drafts and to remove odors. Heating and cooling shall be provided as required according to the physical needs of the animals.
7. All animal rooms, cages, and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper housing for animals kept therein.
8. All animal runs shall be of concrete and provided with adequate drainage into an approved sewer or individual sewer disposal installation. Installation shall be approved by the director and building official.
9. All animals shall be taken to a licensed veterinarian for examination and treatment if so ordered by the animal control officer and any cost shall be borne by the owner.
10. Every violation of applicable regulation shall be corrected within a reasonable time to be specified by the animal control officer.
11. Commercial animal establishments shall comply with all other applicable Dinuba codes and ordinances. (Ord. 2026-03 § 7, 2026; Ord. 670 (part), 1984)
6.76.020 Permit requirement.
A. Application for all kennel or breeder permits pursuant to this chapter shall be filed with the city and/or poundmaster on a form prescribed by the city. Fees charged for these permits shall be set by resolution of city council. The kennel and breeder permits shall be issued for the calendar year or any part thereof and are effective from the first of January of each year and expire on the thirty-first of December of that same year. The full amount of the permit fee shall be paid even though the permit is issued for only a portion of a permit year. Renewal and payment of the permit is due and payable on the first of January of each year. The city and/or poundmaster shall collect a delinquent penalty in an amount equal to the amount as established for license penalties.
B. The failure to obtain the appropriate permit is punishable as an infraction as set forth herein.
C. Any or all of the permits within this code may be immediately suspended for any violations of the conditions for commercial animal establishments pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 2026-03 § 8, 2026; Ord. 670 (part), 1984)
6.76.030 Kennel permit.
A. It is unlawful for any commercial animal establishment to own, maintain, or harbor any more than a total of four dogs within the city limits without first obtaining a kennel permit (or breeder permit for animals less than four months in age) from the city and/or poundmaster.
B. The issuance of the permit shall be at the discretion of the city and/or poundmaster who shall take into consideration the manner in which the animals are housed, sanitation and noise factors, as well as animal control regulations. The kennel permit may also require the payment of a separate kennel permit fee at the rate set by resolution of the city council. Kennel permits shall contain the same requirements as commercial establishments for the health and safety of animals and the general public. (Ord. 2026-03 § 9, 2026)
6.76.040 Breeder permit.
A. It is unlawful for any person or any commercial animal establishment to permit an unaltered dog to breed more than one litter of dogs within a calendar year without first obtaining a breeder permit, in addition to an unaltered dog license.
B. The fees for a breeder permit shall be set by resolution of the city council and must be submitted to the city and/or poundmaster for the breeding of an unaltered dog to produce one litter in a calendar year, as well as advertising for the sale, adoption, gift, or transfer of dogs within the city limits. Breeding permit requirements are as follows:
1. No offspring can be sold, adopted, gifted, or transferred until eight weeks of age;
2. No offspring can be sold, adopted, gifted, or transferred until vaccinated against common diseases;
3. The breeder permit holder must display the permit number when advertising the animals for sale, adoption, gift, or transfer.
C. A separate breeder permit must be obtained and is required for each individual unaltered dog for which an owner desires to breed one litter within a calendar year. (Ord. 2026-03 § 9, 2026)
6.76.050 Breeder advertising.
It is unlawful for any person or any commercial animal establishment to advertise for the sale, adoption, gift, or transfer of a litter of dogs in the city without including in the advertisement a city breeder permit number. A litter shall be defined as two or more offspring from the same female dog. (Ord. 2026-03 § 9, 2026)
6.76.060 Reporting of dog records.
Every person and commercial animal establishment holder of a breeder permit, holder of a kennel permit and others who sell, adopt, gift, or transfer animals must keep permanent records of all dogs sold, adopted, gifted, and/or transferred and forward such information on a monthly basis to the city and/or poundmaster for licensing and confirmation of rabies vaccination. (Ord. 2026-03 § 9, 2026)
6.76.070 Sale and other transfer of dogs.
A. Any person or any commercial animal establishment who offers or provides, whether for compensation or otherwise, any dog for sale or other type of transfer, shall disclose to the transferee information regarding the license and permit requirements of the city applicable to the transferred animal.
B. No person or commercial animal establishment shall present any dog for sale, barter, exchange, or adoption, whether for compensation or otherwise, in any public place, without first obtaining a breeding permit from the city. The term “public place” shall include, but not be limited to, streets, highways, sidewalks, businesses, shopping malls, flea markets, swap meets, and areas in front of commercial establishments. This prohibition shall not apply to:
1. Government agencies, nonprofit animal rescue organizations exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3); or humane societies or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals if such societies are incorporated under the provisions of the California Corporations Code Section 10400 and the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law in Part 2 of the California Corporations Code, beginning at Section 5110.
2. Permitted dog shows.
3. Permitted pet stores which sell or otherwise transfer dogs, whether for compensation or otherwise, within the store.
C. No person or commercial animal establishment shall give away any dog or cat as a prize or as an inducement to enter into any contest, lottery, drawing, game or competition.
D. No person or commercial animal establishment shall give away any dog or cat as an inducement to enter a place of business.
E. No person or commercial animal establishment shall sell or give away any dog in any public place or in front of any business not owned by him/her or at any swap meet.
F. No person or commercial animal establishment shall sell, barter, exchange or offer for adoption, whether for compensation or otherwise, any dog to any minor under the age of eighteen years without the written permission of one of the minor’s parents or legal guardians.
G. Failure to display the breeding permit number or include it in any advertisement for sale, adoption or other transfer of dogs and cats is an infraction.
H. Possession of a valid permit under this chapter does not entitle the permit holder to engage in activity which is otherwise prohibited by law. (Ord. 2026-03 § 9, 2026)
6.76.080 License denial.
Failure of the applicant for the license to comply with any one of the foregoing conditions shall be deemed just cause for the denial of any license, whether original or renewal. (Ord. 2026-03 § 9, 2026)