(a) No person shall operate or maintain a kennel or a cattery without first obtaining an appropriate license therefor from the Animal Control Officer.
(b) Such license shall be valid for a period of either one or two years from the date of issuance, except that the Animal Control Officer may, in his or her discretion, limit the duration of the license to one year when he or she deems such limitation to be appropriate. Said license shall be renewed within 30 days after the date of expiration. Where a kennel license has been issued and is in effect, the dogs contained in such kennel shall be exempt from the requirements of individual license tags. The kennel license fees, and late fees if an application for a license is made more than 30 days after the date such license is required, shall be set by resolution of the City Council.
(c) Application for a kennel or cattery license shall be filed with the Animal Control Officer on a form prescribed by him/her not later than ten days after obtaining written verification from the City Planning Officer that the operation of the kennel or cattery is in compliance with the applicable provisions of City Codes and Ordinances adopted by reference by the City. Said application form, when completed shall contain such information as may reasonably be required by the Animal Control Officer for the purposes of enforcement of this Chapter, including, but not limited to, the current home telephone number of the caretaker of the subject kennel or cattery and another current telephone number for emergency use or messages when such caretaker is absent from the subject kennel or cattery and consent to enter the property for inspection or enforcement. Where a kennel or cattery is sought to be operated upon leased or rented premises, a letter of consent from the owner of the premises to the effect that the kennel or cattery may be maintained and operated on such premises shall be submitted to the Animal Control Officer at the time the application for the kennel or cattery license is submitted.
(d) After receipt of a kennel or cattery license application, the Animal Control Officer shall make an inspection of the premises of the kennel or cattery for which a license is requested. No kennel or cattery license shall be issued nor shall any such license be renewed, unless and until the kennel or cattery, in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer, satisfies the applicable laws and regulations of the State of California and the applicable ordinances of the City. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, the Animal Control Officer or the City Planning Director may, in their respective discretion, limit the numbers of dogs or cats over the age of four months which are kept or maintained in any kennel or cattery, and such limitation may be imposed at such time as an application for an initial kennel or cattery license is considered or at such time as an application for renewal of a kennel or cattery license is considered.
(32-12/92 § 10.04.010) (Ord. 166, passed 4-6-2016)