HomeMy WebLinkAbout0475.000.~--
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August 9, 1990
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, California
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Revisions to Palo Alto Mynicipal Code Chapters 6aQ4 and ___ ~
Members of the Council:
This repo·rt recommends Council approval of the attached ordinance
amendinq Chapters 6a04 and 6a20 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
concerning the care and keeping of certain animals.
Background
on July 23, 199~~ Council requested the City Attorney's office,
with the assistance of staff, to review Title 6 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code and to suqgest any appropriate revisions in order to
more. effec:tively regulate the care and keeping-of exotic or unusual
pets.
Chapter 6.04 qenerally provides definitions relating to animals and
pets. and Cbapter 6.20 prescribes the conditions for the care and
keeping of certain animals~ Significant changes in these Chapters
have not been zade in almost ten years. As a result of increased
publIc interest in keepir~ unusual or exotic animals as pets, staff
has observed an increase in the number of complaints that have been
received concerning the keeping of these anilllalsa Complaints have
included problems associated 'With noises and odors, allerqic
raactions to bee atinqs, and th& obstruction of sidewalks and bike
racks by dogs. Staff believes the. interest in keeping these exot.ic
animals will continue to gro~; therefore, regulations concerning
the care and keeping of sucb animals and birds are needed to
protect: the public PEace.. health, welfare and safety of the
COIImIunltYa
Significant Cbanges
Xumerous changes in the two chapters are proposed in the attached
ordinance. The significant changes include the followinq:
The addition of the definition of -bird-to Title 6, which
vill include exotic and domestic birds.
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"l'he ac:Sdition of sheep, pigs, Ilulss and llamas as animals 'Which
are specIfically regulated. Such ani.ala 'Were not popular
pet. when the ordinance was first enacted.
The addition or clarification of required written consent of
adjacent .neighbors for keepers of bee hives" animal coop
owners (where the coops are closer tban 2S feet to another
dwelling place, business or property line), and the keepers of
_ore than six mature birds or rabbits~
The prohibition of keeping any bird which because of its size.,
natural disposition or other characteristic constitutes a
hazard or aenace, or disturbs the peace.
The prohibition aqainst an animal being tied to a City bike
rack.
The pvobibltion against more than two pigs kept in other than
the aqricultural or open space zones~
RecoJ!QDendation
Staff recommends that the city council adopt the attached ordinance
a.ending Chapters 6.Q4 and 6.20 of the Palo Alto MunIcipal Code.
Respectfully submitted,
Attachment
Cl6:415: 0
CHRI STOPHER T. DURKIN
Police Chief
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ORDINANCE NO,
ORDlNANCE OF TKE COUlICIL OF THE eIn OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING CHAPTERS 6,04 ANO 6.20 OF THE PALO ALTO
MUNICIPAL CODE (ANIMALS AND FOWL) CONCERNING THE
~\RE AND KEEPING OF CERTAIN ANIMALS
WHEREAS, the council of the City of Palo Alto has deter
mined that there is an increasing public interest in the keeping of
unusual or exotic ani~als... including birds... as pets within the
City; and
WHEREAS ... the City Council has further determined that the
requlations concerning the care and t.eeping of such animals and
birds should be clarified and supplemented in order to promote the
public peace, health, ~elfare and safety;
NOW ... THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
ORDAIN as follows:
SECT rON 1.. The heading of Title 6 of t11e Palo Alto
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as fol1ovs:
Title 6
~ECTION 2.. Section 6.04.020 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follovs:
6.0(.020 Animal. -Animal-means any animal~ mammal,
~l~ bird, reptile, .fish, or any other dumb creature or
any live vertebrate creature other than a hUman being.
sEcrroN _~ .. S-ection 6.04.05-0 of _the Palo .Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follo .. ·s:
6. 04.050 lireL ~ei_i'd·, :me~-n's ,ciny,,)jtr~_ o't-, any age of
Ht!l~l'S'~",)IlCl;i.din9 any exi>ti"()1'.i,do~.t~9l)~rd;
§"'E;'CTION 4. Section 6.04.060 of t~e Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as fol1o~s:
6.04. t;6i) Cat,. ': ::,-*,~~~~" ~ear1$':: a~y'<~'at, of "anY.·'-age'· t;;f
~l~~~"):~,e~·.'
SECTION 5.. section 6.0,L070 of the Palo .Alto Municipal
Code. is hereby amended to read as fo110",-s:
6.04.070 0?9.; .. '._~. 'm~,ans:, 'any: d~ of. ~ny, age of
jOt ~lier s~',
SEC'I'IO~ 6. Section S. 04.080 of the palo Alto MuniCipal
Code is bereby amended to read as follows:
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'.' D4 , OS. ImPl>l1I>de.d.." ~"pollndeQ ".'Biean". !llIlit~' ~en l'ee.!v~ ~I:Q tIle~l't04l!'.()f t:¥·-"n!"'a~(!;\llt'fl;;::ai..~!,!-,l
~iitr~.1.9ff lcer .. 01': anf IIlithorh"d ""ell!: or iep<,,,slintatl ve ~reOt;'~t'.any·~U~.o~~fcei:9t toll_ cUi -.,........ ..... , ..
SECTION 1~ section 6.04.090 ~ the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is bereby amended to read as follows:
, ,0 C ,0 u 'it 8hoP-r;'.·~e~·;·"l>oP.iile·iohsah'--"...>ri:. n ..... ori·~l:f>9n.H<>Il c· clPe-:rafUg~eetabH~e.nr!~~i' .. ".n:~ ai..1,!B"W~tiil: .. ;>t for. ~"le;i:?t hi~~.:§l.-"olr!' ........................ , ..
SECTION s. section 6.04.100 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
SECTION 2. section 6.04.110 is hereby added to the Palo
Alto Municipal Code to read cs follows:
. , __ , _,~,~~ ~ lie:.,;_, triil.c,~~s.4 ~,<:,:: ~'~~hil~"C4},~~-ed·'~4&i~<>~!~_~",any
~ . ove!'·I:~.a .. e~.f ... fou!:.,JI<>n~ ... ;>po~ Vh~~i:~<!!<;<ll;'J~t
plat" or t:a9 .. !,roVidedfor 1n::.~!>~shtlj'i" nota~l~<;b~d.
SECTION 10. section 6~20.020 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
I.20.02Q Animals on unenclosed premises. No person
shall stake out, herd or graz.e any animal upon any unen
closed lot or land in any manner so that the animal may be
or 90 beyond the boundary of such lot or land. No per-sen
shall stake O~ tie, or leave staked or tied, within one
hundred fee,t ,of an inha1:>ited .?r tminhahited residence, any
horse. cow"~ ~l:U~'E!PI pi<i~ :}ir~l.e~_'_'_~lama or ~at in an open lo.t.
without the written consent 'of the OWTler cMfor occupant of
such residence ..
SECTION 11. section 6.20.030 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
'.2,0.03d bimals :kept, J'D enclosures. All horses,
COlrIS;' ,$h~,e~",' ~l9S_t 1!lulEis~711alila$ and goats .. it.;in the city,
,...ben not' in use,' sh'all be' kept inside of secure enclosures at aJ I times.
SECTION 12. section 5.20.035 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
'.20.taS 'l'yinq animals to 1:l,i~l'el.'r_ack's ',9~,,~rees_~_ No
person sh1!ll tie any animal to 'any ~}~¥",:_J?~¢l"ci~, ·,.t;aek,,:,', 9r
any shrub or tree growing upon or along 'any of the side
,...alks or streets of the city.
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SECTION ll~ Section 6.20.040 of the Falo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
'.20aOtO Nllisllnees by a.nillal.. It is unla-wfIJl tor
t.he -owner or pers.on havir.g C'tJ;stody of any dog or other
animal to permit, either willfully or through failure to
exercise due,_ car~ ,or cont_rol.. any su~~,_, dog, or _ animal to
b~'~~oinbt~f~~t~tt~ nd!inorliM~ii~!:'1"~..! is~~:""r~ ller.;~t~Eil: .·~· .. ",u~"'UPOriw€li,;"~e;;;aH:···oi i!riy "pUb-ffc'''street:-or upOn'''any'iva1ktAy • path .. grass or play
area of any park or school; €lfee,' el!'l::! p9Hien t:he£~
ettieiall) desiq-fta-tee! afl~ est:aI91:isftea as a de§J ellleE'eise
="-'~~ltttui:-~oo:~,tlx~~li;~i~~f,-~rff~~i,n-~ ~~p)~~;"hotel' ·orc,'i?,r··,{ul.tipie'd,;el1in97'·orupon··a~
Eiilf:rancewaYr stair.-ay or wall immediately abutting on a
public slde~al~, Qr upon the floor of any theater, shop,
store, office building or other building used in common by
the public: or upon the floor or stairway of any depot or
station or public -waiting room; or upon., any floor, ,s,t:ai~,-::
wa'l~ .,e_nt~ilnceway. office lobby .. foyer~ Of' patio Qr,!~any
~t?1~~f ~i.~'~ used in common by the public.. ' ""
SECTION 1... Section 6.20.060 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follo~s:
", ,. ,.' ,~,~. :2.0 ,~ .0,' I) l!,~~S. ~ ,,:.!~.~vt ~",,~~' t:~~}:,,~~r.~,~l~~~l',:',.,~<:-P:o~' ,,:'~r
~",space -de.clar~ ,a:rea __ i' no person shall keep or ma1nfa.ln
~1!the"ity.any hiveoLl'ees·. J ":l; . .... ....... .
witlIou1;. the writ:ten .. ~nsen. of ~he .. ·I>~ aeenl:1 .. r~r":W'P<> t~ld~" tbere.,-, ;,;'he~e\~;,:"Oviiers:':'~:t-, . tiUiM~,_f, ;):'~o:>o~'.~~9il~3i~
Ice!! • -'. ol:'liia InhinSa,,' hiveof'j);i'e\i?"bail'al so'Wii!p19:;Vltll t.he ~oli'ovt:19 'coOdrt'i~'ris":" .,-c' > ,',,""'"""'=<'" "',0-"",.-;I""".", . ' .. :, ,',"',," "', .... , --,"" , .,co,.,,'
(1) ElCC,ept' in"th,~' a.gYiSU.1tuZ'a)::~:'t::~ne or"t~~.o,~rrs~oe
deCleir-,ed arft,a,' no more than t. ... 'o hi,ies shall be Il'la.lntained on any"one lot or parcel of land.
«2) No hive shall be kept or maintained
twenty-five feet .of. an,Y property line of the lot or
of land upon ~hich it:is situated.
within
parcel
(3) -Front property line,· for the purpose of
subsection (2) of this section, is defined as tbe sidewalk.
boundary farthest from the street.
SECTION 15. Section 6~20.070 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
'.20.07D Food poisoning. No person shall place,
leave or expose, in any place accessible to birds, fe.ls,
dogs, cats or any domestic animals" with the intent to kill
or harm. such ~~-e;H-~ animals" any poiso-nous sub
stance or ingredient, or any edible or any other substance
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-'><~~~:-'·~~!~c~_-·~ ,"cc-' __ ' .. '~' ;...;......;_'""" •. ~~,~~~<""'_r"'~;, .... "'.-~,,'" ~"~~.,,~~d.ttf:,"'~<a;,, .. j 1 .. ··· .'
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or ingredient 'Which has in any lIlaru'.er been treated or
prepared with any poisonous substance or ingredient.
SECTION 16~ section 6.204080 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
' .. 20.080 Perait required-to keep livestock.. ,_No
~r~ shall keep ~ny horse" cow" qoat, sheep# ch,~c;~ep.l
~uC)t'j;~:,qq~:.~_l'1t;·'-~~~,_$'a_n;t~> i:'~kfti;,'-: llaaa)l 'm,I.ll." ~'-""of" 'pIg within the city lIm'its;" e"xc"ept' in the agricultural zone or
open space declared area, without first securing a permit
therefor from the superintendent of the animal center. The
fee for this permit shall be as set forth in the municipal
tee schedule.
~ECTIO~ 11. section 5.20.090 of th~ Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as f0110\,'s:
'.20.0'0 8iras~ F&v~ qoats, pigs, and rabbits. No
person or persons, firm or corporation shall keep or
maintain or cause to be kept or Elaintained within the
eBfllBE'ate cIt.y -l-i~----o-f----~-he---e-i-ty af Fals '.Its, IlSf'e ~ftan
e,f'le ,_efli~f:e-l'i, sl;1:eit, ~Jes,e. lligeefl_~, 8J!', ,salef fevl eE' any
~!!iP.~_ goat; E'aSl!it, pig, or heft ta,bb,it Except under the
folioving conditions!
(lJ Such p&\i-lt."f'j afl~ ilTlimals shall under no circum-
6ta~es be permitted to run at large off of the ownerYs
property and shall be confined within a suitable house or
coop after S'.lndov."11.
'" """,',,' J~l , Sll~h_ house ,o,:r""c::OOP~, aM any runvay ~~_~,,:~y.:,:£"~~~ a'r~a:: ,,vhere:',s:uch __ anlmal,~, ~~,. shall at all tlmes be rna1n
talneCi'''II1''''a' clean and ·sarii"tary condition, shall be cleaned
once a week or more often if necessary and shall at all
times be free from offensive odors and flies.
(3) Such houses or coops shall be ~ell limewashed or
painted once a year, or more often if necessary.
(<I) No part of any such house, coop or run"w"ay shall
be less than t-...:enty-five feet from any d""elling or place of
business occupied by huma:l beings for d .... 'elling or business
purposes ....-i thou t ·.rr i t ten consent of the occupan t of such
d~elling or place of business.
(5) No person sball keep or maintain any house, coop
aftdfor runway ~ithin twenty-five feet of any property line
of tl:Ie lot or parcel of land upon W"hich it is sitll C51ted
without th~ __ unanimous, \Writ,ten :cofl~ent _of_ ,~he j.~j~(:ellt
neighbors ltfhO. reside th~re~, llti'et·h~r ~e.rs' o{""t~~tf'-.'
"'Base pl'eflerty lilies 21f"e ''".·IUd". t'fla~" t:e:ri-t] fi.'e;''!e'et.
(6) No person shall keep or maintain in the city"
except in the agricul tllral zone or open space declared
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area" more than six ehie1lenS iD_at_ur~" blrdlJ,'::',o~', ,-ia»l~$
without the unanimous written consent of "8eig:hh'~:~s'<"~-13eee
p'.fe.ty li'e' d,,,,'-'oIH.hl,,-~_y-H,,e re_~ tru;"J~<:Ij<i!~ent
!l~ ~~Li','!fbore"~<:I. thei"} ·wliether .. ~wn<>"$·. or ·tilli\bt".' , ..
(7J No:. perg;,on >~hall _ raise, keep_ or ha_ve ..i~" his
possession !n.·t;he' city "xc"ptLri .the agricultlfraltl>rieor ~ :'-~pa.'c"'--~~lared .le'i':';: 'ail'[ i'fv'e ' 'rooster1iJ';"--~"'-~ ~ peacocKs"'o'r"'g'idnea "bensi "6ver the age of a baby chicks" or
sli e 0<'7"" i othei"l>fid . >¢Ii"" liecause <i.fit,t'·siie ikh1i'~·'im,. 'n8'I%''cpr ··an· ot.h.,FCb"rllct~HM:i.:,., stJ.! t;·€fl ... ;"' .. .l'1is,·······m: ... ... 'Jf ....... , .• " •.... ···<il.l·'······ ."eE., .... ,. e~e'e-p~-"'~'~~!~-, ~~ri Ittt:\!ti i>:~~r--~~f"ape~ '~~~~E1'~rr:i:~
<H'ea-r
(8l No pers~n sh~ll keep or maintain in the city~
except. in the agricultural zone or open space declared
area .. more than two adult qoats.::9r:::P;q'~~ H-o-wever, no ad-ul t
male goat shall be kept or maintained unless neutered.
SECTION 18~ secticn 6.20.1~O of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
1.20.120 Bree~inq permit required. Any person owning
or ~aving CC),ntrol ~,_ custody, charge or possession of any
cat~, eF dog'>(),X',,_bird for breeding purposes sball secure a
eat-' at=' tiSI)' h"re'edinq' permit from t.he superintendent of the
animal shelter. The fee for such permit shall be as set
forth in the municip-.al fee schedl.lle. A cat~' ~ doq o.i-,bt~d
shall be deemed to be" l.l~ed for breeding p"Urposes if" core
than one litter .or, 't>ro:oa per year is raised7 per permit
bolder.. ' .
SECTION 19. section 6.20.160 of the Falo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read 'as follows:
6.20.160 sanitary enclosures. All animals and all
premises". enclosures or structures -wherein animal s _a_1:"e ,kept
shall be maintained in a clean~' ~ sanitary : ~r)cS"is'~u~e
condition, free from all obnoxious odors and 'S:'iiEstanees'.
All animals and all premises .. enclosures or structures
~herein animals are kept shall be thoroughly cleaned, and
all debris... refuse... manure... urine... waste food, or other
removable material shall be removed therefrom every day or
more often as necessary.
SECTION 20. section 6.20.170 of the Falo Alto Municipal
Code is hereby amended to read as follo'wo's:
6.20.170 Slau.ghter of animals. It is unIa'",Cul for
any person, by any Dleans, to slau-ghter any dog, cat, sheep,
qoat .. pig,_ C<Ywl, horse, deer, raccoon ... coyote, &f mountain
lion,. llaD1a" tnule, squirl-el' or-opposum 'Wi thin the city e-f.
Fa I e -.. '.-Ito.
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SECTION 21. The enactment of this ordinance is not. a
project tor purposes of the California Environmental QUality Act
and. theretore no environmental .assessl!'.ent is necessary.
,SECTION 22. This ordinance sh).ll become effective upon the
commencement of the thirty-first day after the day of its acJop.tion.
INTRODOCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTEN'I'IONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORK:
Assistant City Attorney
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APFi'<OVED:
Mayor
City Manager
supervisor of Animal Services
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