Chapter 10.20 — BITING ANIMALS

The declared purpose of this chapter is to empower and direct the Director of Public Health of the City to undertake a program of identifying and registering the identification of animals which may have bitten any person or any animal in the City. (Ord. 5111-NS § 1, 1978)

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

A. "Biting animal" means any animal which shall be impounded or quarantined pursuant to subsections A, B, C and D of Section 10.04.160 of this code.

B. "Identification" means the recordation of a unique characteristic, such as the print of one or more foot pads or the nose of an animal or the application to an animal of a marking, such as a tattoo, which will enable the future recognition of such animal. (Ord. 5111-NS § 2, 1978)

The Director of Public Health, or their representative, shall obtain or cause to be obtained the identification of all biting animals at the time of commencement of impoundment or quarantine pursuant to subsections A, B, C and D of Section 10.04.160 of this code. (Ord. 5111-NS § 3, 1978)

The Director of Public Health, or their representative, shall establish and maintain a system of records of the identification of all biting animals along with the names and addresses of each such animal’s owner at the time of identification and any other information regarding said animal which might facilitate its future recognition for other purposes of City ordinances or state laws pertaining to the control and ownership of animals. (Ord. 5111-NS § 4, 1978)

The Berkeley Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 8008-NS, passed May 12, 2026.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk’s Office has the official version of the Berkeley Municipal Code. Users should contact the City Clerk’s Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: www.berkeleyca.gov

Hosted by General Code.