A. It is unlawful for any person(s) to own, maintain, or harbor, any more than a total of four dogs and/or cats combined within the city limits without first obtaining a kennel permit (or breeder permit for animals less than four months in age) from the Poundmaster. The issuance of the permit shall be at the discretion of the 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 City Council. Kennel permits shall contain the same requirements as commercial establishments for the health and safety of animals and the general public.
B. Effective January 1, 2020 the City of Visalia will not issue kennel permits to locations that have not previously been issued a kennel permit within the prior three years. This prohibition on new kennel permits shall not apply to kennel permits for commercially operated kennels established after this date in a land use zone that allows such usage under the City of Visalia Zoning Ordinance and the kennel has complied with all other applicable zoning requirements. (
Ord. 2019-09 § 2, 2019; prior code § 4652)