(A) Intent: This section is intended to ensure that keeping of animals or husbandry land uses does not create adverse impacts to adjacent properties, such as dust, noise, odor, fumes, bright light, visual blight or insect infestation.
(B) Applicability: All keeping of animals or husbandry land uses conducted shall comply with the provisions of this section, in addition to applicable provisions of the zone district in which the said use is located.
(C) Preexisting Uses: Legally established keeping of animals and husbandry uses which would, as a result of the adoption of this title become nonconforming within this title, be permitted to continue as a "legal nonconforming use"; provided, that the use meets the criteria for legal nonconforming uses, pursuant to section 6-2-13 of this title, nonconforming use and structure provisions.
(D) Permitted Uses: The following uses are permitted uses on each residential parcel in the city. For purposes of calculating allowed number of animals, remainders of area or of animals shall be rounded down:
1. Domestic Pets: The following standards apply to the keeping of domestic pets within A, RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zone districts:
(a) Not more than four (4) dogs may be kept, maintained or harbored at any residence within the city.
(b) The keeping of up to four (4) domestic, adult household pets, other than dogs, including domestic birds, rabbits, hamsters, rats, mice, etc., shall be permitted in any combination of species for each ten thousand (10,000) square feet of net lot area, provided the total number of adult household pets kept does not exceed twenty (20) animals.
2. Horses: The following standards apply to the noncommercial keeping of horses within the A and RS zone districts:
(a) No horses or ponies shall be kept on any lot with a net area less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.
(b) One adult horse may be kept on a parcel for each twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of net lot area, up to a maximum of six (6) horses or ponies, or combination thereof.
3. Other Animals: Noncommercial keeping of the following animals, in any combination, may be permitted within the A and RS zone districts:
(a) Goats, sheep and other small sized cleft hoof animals:
(1) No goats, sheep or other small sized cleft hoof animals shall be kept on any parcel with a net area of less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.
(2) Two (2) adult goats, sheep or other small sized cleft hoof animal may be kept for each additional twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of net lot area, up to a maximum of six (6) adult animals total, in any combination of species.
(b) Cattle (bovines):
(1) No cattle or bovines shall be kept on any lot or parcel with a net area of less than forty thousand (40,000) square feet.
(2) One bovine may be kept for each twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of net lot area up to a maximum of four (4) bovine.
(c) Poultry, rabbits and other small animals:
(1) On parcels ten thousand (10,000) square feet net lot area or larger, a maximum of four (4) such adult animals, in any combination of species, may be kept.
(2) On parcels ten thousand (10,000) square feet net lot area or larger, a maximum of four (4) such adult animals per each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of net lot area, in any combination of species, may be kept, provided the total number kept does not exceed twenty (20) animals.
4. Student Oriented Projects: The breeding and raising of livestock, in greater numbers than allowed in this section, by minors in conjunction with a student oriented fair project sponsored by a bona fide agricultural organization shall be permitted upon application to and approval by the project assistance team.
(a) Application Contents: An application for a temporary animal permit shall include the following:
(1) The name and address of the applicant.
(2) The names and address of the property owner.
(3) Assessor's parcel number.
(4) Legal description of the subject property.
(5) Name of the organization sponsoring the applicant.
(6) A plot plan showing the location of proposed pens, coops or areas for the breeding and raising of animals in relation to existing residences and other buildings and structures within one hundred feet (100') of pens, coops or areas housing livestock.
(7) The signature of each owner of the real property abutting the subject lot consenting to the granting of the temporary animal permit.
(b) Development Standards And Conditions: The breeding and raising of animals on a temporary basis shall comply with the following standards and conditions:
(1) Applicant shall be sponsored by a bona fide organization, such as, but not limited to, Future Farmers Of America, 4-H Club, Cow-Belles or Junior Farmers.
(2) The increase in animal density shall not exceed one horse, donkey, mule, cow, dairy stock, goat, hog, sheep or other similar animal for each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of lot area. In any case, no more than six (6) additional animals shall be allowed.
(3) A temporary animal permit shall be effective for a period of six (6) months from the effective date of the permit. No more than one such permit shall be approved for any lot within a one year period.
(4) The written consent of each abutting property owner consenting to the granting of a temporary animal permit must be obtained.
(5) The applicant shall allow inspection of animal maintenance facilities by the Kern County health department and city staff.
(6) The project assistance team may revoke a temporary animal permit at any time for noncompliance with this section or upon receipt of a recommendation for revocation from the Kern County health department.
(7) Each additional animal authorized by a temporary animal permit over the allowable animal density specified herein shall be removed upon expiration of the permit.
5. Conditionally Permitted Uses: The following shall be permitted subject to securing an approved conditional use permit in the agricultural zone district in accordance with section 6-2-5 of this title:
(a) Exotic or wild animals, as defined in section 6-1-19, "Definitions", of this title.
(b) On lots twenty thousand (20,000) square feet or greater, frog farms or the raising of earthworms may be permitted; provided, that the area devoted to such use or uses shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the net lot area.
(c) Fish hatcheries or farms for stocking, breeding or commercial sale.
(d) The raising of rabbits, chinchilla, nutria, hamsters, guinea pigs and other such animals similar in size, appearance and weight for commercial purposes.
(e) Noncommercial aviaries (not including chickens); provided, that the number of birds shall not exceed seventeen (17) birds for each forty thousand (40,000) square feet of net lot area.
(f) Noncommercial apiary (beekeeping); provided, that hives and/or boxes shall be placed a minimum of four hundred feet (400') from any street, road, highway, public school, park or any occupied dwelling, except for the owner or caretaker of the apiary.
6. Animal Offspring: Offspring born to permitted or conditionally permitted animals kept on any given site may be maintained on said site until weaned without being counted against the maximum number of animals permitted on the site as follows:
(a) Dogs: Six (6) months;
(b) Horses and ponies: Twelve (12) months;
(c) All other equine and cleft hoof animals: Six (6) months. (Ord. 768-08, 8-19-2008)