It is unlawful to keep large livestock within the city except by permit issued by the animal services director or his designee under the terms and conditions set forth in this chapter.
A. Permit Requirements: Any person desiring to keep large livestock may make application to the animal services center and shall supply proof that the applicant and premises comply with the following requirements, as well as certifying that he or she will comply with all the following conditions for maintaining the large livestock. The animal services director may deny a permit if the applicant has a record of failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Additionally, the director may revoke any permit for failure to comply with any of the conditions or restrictions of the permit. Appeal of the denial or revocation may be made in writing to the city council in the same manner as appeals for commercial animal establishment licensing.
1. A maximum of two (2) animals defined as "livestock, large" may be allowed for each permit.
2. The minimum area required for each permit shall be three- fourths (3/4) of an acre, of which seventy five percent (75%) shall be irrigated "pastureland" with full vegetative cover watered regularly so as to be kept in a healthy, green, and growing condition.
3. An applicant must make and demonstrate adequate provisions to keep large livestock at least thirty feet (30') from any residential dwelling on any adjacent parcel of land, regardless of ownership of the land.
4. Any animal shelter or feeding facility shall be located at least fifty feet (50') from any residential dwelling located on the property and at least fifty feet (50') from any residential dwelling located on any parcel of land adjacent to the parcel on which the large livestock are kept.
5. A permittee shall at all times maintain the acreage on which large livestock are kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
6. A permittee shall at all times maintain any shelter or feeding facility for the large livestock in a clean and sanitary condition.
7. A permittee is prohibited from maintaining the acreage as a commercial feedlot to prepare large livestock for market.
8. The written consent of at least seventy five percent (75%) of the adult owners and occupants of all premises, excepting public lands, within one hundred feet (100') of the perimeter of the applicant's property must accompany the application, unless such requirement is excluded by the animal services director.
9. Offspring may be kept on the property only until standard weaning age.
B. Fees: The initial fee for each large livestock permit shall be set by annual resolution of the city council. Thereafter, the permittee must pay an annual renewal fee as set by annual resolution of the city council for each permit, accompanied by written notice of any change in number of large livestock or amount of acreage. The animal services director or his designee may perform inspections to verify the information provided, and deny any permit renewal for failure to comply with this chapter.
C. Exception: Any person may apply to the animal services director for an exception to the strict terms of the large livestock permit requirements. The director may grant or deny the request. If he determines that an exception may be granted, he may impose additional conditions upon a permittee, including, but not limited to, types of enclosure, number of animals, size of the parcel, standards of upkeep, proof of consent of seventy five percent (75%) of the neighbors living within one hundred feet (100') of the boundaries of the permit area, size of animals, accommodations for animals or other reasonable requirements.
D. Transfer Of Permit Prohibited: No large livestock permit may be transferred to any other person or location.
E. Violations Of Livestock At Large: The owner/custodian of any "livestock, large" as defined within this chapter found running at large is subject to a notice of violation fee in an amount to be determined by annual fee resolution adopted by the city council. If said animal is found in violation of repeated running at large (more than 2 violations) the owner/custodian may be subject to a nuisance violation. (Ord. 2975, 2016: Ord. 2963, 2015: Ord. 2697 § 12, 2002: Ord. 2667 § 2, 2001)