(A) Residents of the village who keep animals outside are required to have a permit. Keeping dogs and cats is excepted from this requirement so long as they do not become a nuisance as defined below. Also, see R.C. § 955.01 for Ohio state requirement of a license for all dogs over three months of age.
(B) Permits are issued by household and the cost of each permit shall be $10. Permits must be updated to reflect changes to the current animals being kept.
(C) Further rules and regulations governing the issuance of such permits shall be promulgated by the Zoning Officer.
(D) Prohibited animals.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, or have possession or under his control live within the Village of Bluffton any of the following animals:
(a) Any animal declared protected or endangered by the U.S. Department of Interior or the Ohio Revised Code;
(b) All venomous reptiles and venomous snakes;
(c) Bears (ursidae);
(d) All wild Canids, that is: wolves, foxes, jackals, dingo, coyote;
(e) Civet;
(f) Crocodilians, that is: alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gahrials;
(g) All wild cats and hybrids of wild and domesticated cats;
(h) Anthropoid apes;
(i) Marsupials;
(j) Procyonidae; or
(k) Non-domesticated weasels.
(2) The provisions of division (D) shall not apply to following:
(a) Licensed medical and licensed educational institutions;
(b) Licensed rehabilitation facilities and licensed nuisance trappers;
(c) Licensed veterinary hospital; or
(d) Any circus or rodeo.
(E) Any person keeping an animal who does not have a permit shall have ten days after receipt of notice of violation to register and get a permit. If the person fails to get a permit within the period required village personnel may remove any such animal at the expense of the person keeping or harboring such animal(s).
(F) Any person keeping dogs or cats who receives an order to abate a nuisance under § 90.03 may be required in that order to register for a permit under this section.
(G) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and may be fined not in excess of $150.
(Ord. 12-2020, passed - -)