(A) Generally. No more than two dogs and two cats in the aggregate which are over six months of age shall be kept or harbored at any place in the city, except in a pet shop, animal hospital, or commercial kennel, unless a permit has been issued pursuant to this section by the Council.
(B) Permit application and hearing. Persons who wish to keep or harbor more than the number of dogs or cats permitted by this section may apply for a permit from the Council. After the receipt of the permit application and the fee as set forth in this chapter, the Council shall conduct a public hearing regarding the application. A notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the hearing shall be mailed at least ten days before the date of the hearing to each owner of property situated wholly or partly within 200 feet of the property to which the application relates.
(C) Issuance of permit. After hearing the oral and written views of all interested persons, the Council shall make its decision. The Council shall not grant a permit unless it finds that keeping or harboring more than the allowed number of dogs or cats on the applicant’s property:
(1) Will not be a nuisance; or
(2) Will not be detrimental to the public health and safety of the applicant or other persons in the vicinity.
(D) Permit not transferable. No permit may be transferred to any person or place by the person or from the place to whom and for which the permit was granted. The permit shall be granted only for the dogs or cats described in the application. No dogs or cats described in the application may be replaced by the applicant without first obtaining a new permit from the Council.
(E) Conditions and restrictions. The Council may impose conditions and restrictions as it deems necessary for the protection of the public interest and adjacent properties and to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section and other applicable provisions of this code. Each permit issued pursuant to this section shall remain in effect only so long as the conditions and restrictions imposed by the Council are observed and not violated.
(Prior Code, § 12.17)