6-3B-1: DOG AND CAT LICENSING; EXEMPTIONS:

   A.   License Required: All dogs and cats must be licensed each year to a person eighteen (18) years or older, except as per section 6-3B-3 of this article or as otherwise provided herein.

   B.   Time Limits For Licensing: Any owner or custodian of a dog or cat shall obtain a license for such animal within thirty (30) days after the dog or cat reaches the age of four (4) months, or, in the case of a dog or cat over four (4) months of age, within thirty (30) days of the date of acquisition, ownership, or possession of the dog or cat.

   C.   Annual License Applications And Fees: All owners of dogs and cats must renew their dog and cat licenses annually. New license applications must be submitted to the division of animal control, utilizing a standard form which contains the dog or cat owner's name, address and telephone number, and the breed, sex, color and age of the animal. All dogs and cats must have current rabies vaccinations before being licensed. Rabies vaccinations must be given by an authorized provider and a copy of the vaccination certificate must be presented with the license application before a license renewal application will be accepted by the division of animal control.

   D.   License Fees: The licensing fees for new licenses and license renewals are those adopted by the city council in its uniform fee schedule. (2001 Code § 14-2-101; amd. 2009 Code; Ord. 17-08, 2-8-2017; Ord. 24-16, 4-10-2024)

6-3B-2: LICENSE TAG:

   A.   Issuance Of License; Tags Attached; Exceptions:

      1.   Upon payment of the license or license renewal fee, the division of animal control shall issue to the dog or cat owner a certificate and a license tag for each dog or cat licensed. The license tag shall have stamped thereon a license number which corresponds with the tag number on the certificate. The owner shall attach the license tag to the collar or harness of the animal and ensure that the collar and license tag remain on the dog or cat. Failure to attach and maintain the license tag on the dog or cat as provided herein shall be a violation of this article.

      2.   Dogs or cats which are kept for show purposes are not required to wear collars with attached licenses as set forth in subsection A1 of this section while such show dogs or cats are contained within an enclosed pen, while they are within the owner's residence, or they are actively being shown at a properly sanctioned dog or cat show.

   B.   Tags Not Transferable; No Refunds: Dog and cat license tags are not transferable from one licensed animal to another. No refunds shall be made on any license fee for any reason whatsoever. Replacements for lost or destroyed license tags shall be issued upon payment of one dollar ($1.00) to the division of animal control.

   C.   Violation For Removal: Except for a licensed veterinarian or animal control officer who removes a collar from a dog or cat while performing their duties, or for show dogs or cats as described in subsection A2 of this section, any person removing or causing to be removed the collar, harness, or license tag from any licensed dog or cat without the consent of the owner or keeper thereof, shall be in violation of this article. (2001 Code § 14-2-102)

6-3B-3: EXEMPTIONS TO LICENSING AND FEES; INCLUDING COMMUNITY CATS:

   A.   Licensing Exemptions: The provision of sections 6-3B-1 and 6-3B-2 of this article shall not apply to:

      1.   Licensed From Another Jurisdiction: Dogs with a current license from another jurisdiction whose owners are nonresidents of the City and who are temporarily residing within the City for a period of thirty (30) days or less. Licensed dogs whose owners remain within the City for longer than thirty (30) days may obtain a City license upon surrendering the other jurisdiction's license, making a payment of a one dollar ($1.00) transfer fee and completing a license application with proof of current rabies vaccination.

      2.   Within Licensed Establishments: Individual dogs within a properly licensed dog kennel or other such establishment when such dogs are held for resale.

      3.   Community Cats: Individual community cats, as defined in section 6-3A-1 of this chapter, and as set forth in subsection C of this section.

   B.   Fee Exemptions: The fee provisions of section 6-3B-1 of this article shall not apply to:

      1.   Seeing Eye Dogs: Seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons if such dogs are actually being used by blind persons to assist them in moving from place to place.

      2.   Hearing Dogs: Hearing dogs properly trained to assist deaf persons if such dogs are actually used by deaf persons to aid them in responding to sounds.

      3.   Disability Service Dogs: Service dogs properly trained and certified to assist the physically disabled and in use for that purpose.

      4.   Law Enforcement Dogs: Dogs especially trained to assist officials of government agencies in the performance of their duties and which are owned by such agencies.

   C.   Community Cats: The provisions governing community cats, as per section 11-46-301 et seq., Utah Code Annotated, are as follows:

      1.   To control and manage the population of community cats in the City, the Animal Control Division shall operate a community cat program consistent with Utah Code section 11-46-303 as further defined in City Code section 6-3A-1.

      2.   Impounded community cats that are in good health and that do not pose a threat to the health or safety or persons or other domesticated animals as determined by the Animal Services Manager or their designee shall be released within a reasonable proximity to the place where they were trapped or picked up. The Animal Services Manager or their designee may refuse to release a community cat if in their determination the cat is carrying a disease or is a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of persons, property, or other domesticated animals.

      3.   A cat received by a shelter pursuant to the community cat program may be released to a community cat sponsor prior to the five (5) day holding period set forth in Utah Code section 11-46-103

      4.   A community cat is exempt from licensing requirements and feeding bans.

      5.   Community cat sponsors or community cat caretakers do not have custody, as defined in Utah Code section 76-9-301 or City Code section 6-3A-1 of any cat in a community cat colony.

      6.   Pursuant to Utah Code section 11-46-304, community cat caretakers must register with the City's Animal Control Division and receive a community cat caretaker permit identifying the approximate location of the community cat colonies they intend to care for. Before a community cat caretaker permit will be issued, the applicant must pay a permitting fee in an amount set forth in the City's consolidated fee schedule and provide proof that the applicant either mailed a notice to all property owners within _______ feet of where the applicant will engage in caretaking activities or has posted a notice on the applicant's property with a sign of sufficient size, durability, print quality, and location that is reasonably calculated to give notice to passers-by of the applicant's community cat caretaking activities.

         a.   Any signs or mailed notices will be at the applicant's sole expense.

         b.   The mailed notice shall be on a form prepared by the Animal Control Division.

         c.   Community cat caretaker permits shall be valid for _____ years.

      7.   Sterilization and vaccination records shall be maintained for a minimum of three (3) years and be available to an animal control officer upon request.

      8.   See section 6-3A-1 of this chapter for the definitions of "community cat", "community cat caretaker", "community cat colony", "community cat program", "community cat sponsor", "ear tipping", and "feral". (2001 Code § 14-2-103; amd. Ord. 17-08, 2-8-2017; Ord. 23-06, 2-22-2023)

6-3B-4: LIMITATION ON LICENSES AND DOGS:

Unless otherwise allowed by this chapter, no person or persons at any one residence or property within the City shall, at any one time (i) own, harbor or license more than four (4) adult dogs at any one residence or at any one premises or (ii) own, harbor or license more than four (4) adult cats at any one residence or at any one premises. (2001 Code § 14-2-104; amd. Ord. 23-06, 2-22-2023)

6-3B-5: REVOCATION OF DOG LICENSE:

   A.   Revocation: If the owner of any dog is found to be in violation of this chapter on three (3) or more different occasions during any twelve (12) month period, the animal control officer may issue a notice of violation under title 16 of this Code seeking an administrative enforcement order to revoke for a period of one year any dog license, and ordering the Animal Control Division to pick up and impound any dog kept by the person under such order. Any dog owner whose dog is impounded pursuant to such an order shall be subject to the fines and penalties set forth in the provisions of this chapter for impounded animals.

   B.   Forfeiture: Any person whose dog is the subject of an impound and revocation order shall forfeit the dog and not be allowed to redeem the dog under any circumstances. (2001 Code § 14-2-105; amd. Ord. 12-10, 4-25-2012, eff. 7-1-2012; Ord. 19-07, 2-13-2019)

6-3B-6: REGULATORY PERMITS:

   A.   Commercial Permits: It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain a kennel, cattery, pet shop, groomery, riding stable, veterinary clinic or hospital, or any similar establishment, unless such person first obtains a regulatory permit from the Division of Animal Control, in addition to all other required licenses. All applications for permits to operate such establishments shall be submitted, together with the required permit fee, on a printed form provided by the Animal Control Division to that department. An applicant for a commercial permit as described herein must first receive approval from the Salt Lake County Health Department, the appropriate City zoning authority where required and the Animal Control Division.

   B.   Litter Intact, Limitations: The holder of a permit under this section may keep one litter intact until the dogs reach six (6) months of age; one animal from the litter may be retained until it reaches twelve (12) months of age. At no time may the holder of the permit retain more than seven (7) dogs over six (6) months of age, nor more than four (4) dogs over one year of age.

   C.   Display Of Permit: A valid commercial permit issued under this section shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each establishment, and said permit shall not be transferable to another location. The permittee shall immediately notify the Division of Animal Control within thirty (30) days of any change of address. A commercial permit shall not be transferable from one owner to another.

   D.   Renewal Of Permit: Any permit issued pursuant to this section shall automatically expire on December 31. Within two (2) months prior to the expiration of the permit, the permittee shall apply for a renewal of the permit and pay the required fee. Any application made after December 31, except an application for a new establishment opening subsequent to that date, shall be accompanied by a late application fee in addition to the regular permit fee.

   E.   Permit Fees: Permit fees and late fees for riding stables, kennels, catteries, groomeries, pet shops, veterinary clinics and hospitals will be made based on the number of animals. The classification and applicable fees will be those set by the City Council in its uniform fee schedule.

   F.   Exemptions: Research facilities where bona fide medical or related research is being conducted, humane shelters, and other animal establishments operated by State or local government or which are licensed by Federal law are excluded from the licensing requirements of this article.

   G.   Inspections: All establishments required to be permitted under this article shall be subject to periodic inspections, and the inspector shall make a report of such inspection with a copy to be filed with the Animal Control Division.

   H.   Revocation And Suspension Of Permit: The Division of Animal Control may seek to revoke any permit issued under this section, through the provisions of title 16 of this Code, if the division finds that the keeping of the dogs under the permit constitutes a noise, odor or other nuisance. A permit issued under this section may also be suspended or revoked, or an application for a permit under this section may be rejected, for any one or more of the following reasons:

      1.   Falsification of facts in a permit application;

      2.   Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or any other law or regulation governing the establishment, including Noise, Building and Zoning Ordinances;

      3.   Conviction for a charge of cruelty to animals.

   I.   Suspension Or Revocation Procedure: If an inspection of kennels, catteries, groomeries, pet shops, riding stables, veterinary clinics or hospitals reveals a violation of this chapter, the animal control officer shall notify the permit holder or operator of such violation by means of an inspection report form or notice of violation under title 16 of this Code.

   J.   Emergency Suspension: Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, when the inspecting officer finds unsanitary or other conditions in the operation of kennels, catteries, groomeries, veterinary clinics or hospitals, riding stables, pet shops, or any similar establishments which, in his or her judgment, constitute a substantial hazard to public health, he or she may, without warning or hearing, issue an emergency order under title 16 of this Code to the permit holder or operator citing such condition specifying the corrective action to be taken. Such order may state that the permit is immediately suspended and all operations are to be immediately discontinued. Any person to whom such an order is issued shall comply immediately therewith. Any animals at such a facility may be confiscated by the Animal Control Division and impounded or otherwise provided for according to the provisions of this chapter. (2001 Code § 14-2-106; amd. 2009 Code; Ord. 12-10, 4-25-2012, eff. 7-1-2012; Ord. 19-07, 2-13-2019)

6-3B-7: STANDARDS FOR PERMITTED ESTABLISHMENTS:

The Division of Animal Control shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation of kennels, catteries, groomeries, pet shops, riding stables, and veterinary clinics or hospitals. Such rules and regulations shall provide for the type of structures, buildings, pens, cages, runways or yards required for the animals sought to be kept, harbored or confined on such premises; the manner in which food, water and sanitation facilities will be provided to such animals; measures relating to the protection of persons or property on adjacent premises; and other such matters as the division shall deem necessary. Such rules and regulations shall have the effect of law, and violation of such rules and regulations shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and grounds for revocation of a permit issued by the Division of Animal Control. (2001 Code § 14-2-107)