Buena Park Municipal Code Ch. 6.22 Care and Keeping of Cats, Other Animals and Bees

A. Unless otherwise permitted by the zoning code of the city, no person shall keep or maintain more than three cats that have attained the age of six months, at any street address within the city unless the person, family or group of persons keeping or maintaining such cats is operating a bona fide animal clinic or hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, cat kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or cat exhibition at such street address.

B. No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female cat at any street address within the city unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such cats is operating a bona fide animal hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, cat kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or cat exhibition at such street address.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

Any person owning or having control, custody, charge or possession of any female cat for breeding purposes shall secure a breeding permit from the animal control officer as prescribed in Chapter 6.30 of this title. The fee for such permit shall be as established per resolution of the city council. A cat shall be deemed to be used for breeding purposes if more than one litter per year is raised.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

It is unlawful for the owner or person having possession, charge, custody or control of any female cat to cause or permit or allow the same to stray or run or in any other manner to be at large upon any public street, lane, alley, court or other public place in the city while such female cat or dog is in heat.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

The following types of animals may be kept as household pets: guinea pigs, not more than one rabbit, white rats, white mice, turtles, salamanders, newts, chameleons, not more than three nonpoisonous snakes not over six feet long, any nonpoisonous toad, lizard, or spider and other animals of a similar nature. It is unlawful for any person to own or be in possession of an endangered species as identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

A. Unless otherwise permitted by the zoning code of the city, no person or persons, shall keep any livestock, as defined in Chapter 6.04 of this title, within the city limits, except in the agricultural zone. No person or persons, firm or corporation shall keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained within the city any livestock, except under the following conditions:

1. Such animals shall under no circumstances be permitted to run at large off of the owner's property and shall be confined within a suitable cage, corral, house or pen.

2. Such cage, corral, house, pen or any other area where such animals roam shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, shall be cleaned once a week or more often if necessary and shall at all times be free from offensive odors, rodents, and insects.

3. Such cage, corral, house, or pen shall be well lime-washed or painted once a year, or more often if necessary.

4. In the agricultural zone, raising or keeping of livestock shall be limited to domesticated animals such as rabbits, and not more than two horses, mules, cows, goats, sheep or similar large animals in any combination.

5. No part of any such cage, corral, house, or pen shall be less than forty feet from any dwelling or place of business occupied by human beings for dwelling or business purposes.

6. No person shall keep or maintain any house, coop or runway within one-hundred feet from the front of any property line; and thirty feet from any other property line of the lot or parcel of land upon which it is situated.

7. No person shall raise, keep or have in his or her possession in the city, except within an agricultural zone or open space declared area, an animal that because of its size, natural disposition, or any other characteristic constitutes a hazard or menace to persons or disturbs the peace.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to those animals that are being kept upon the premises of a public school in association with an agriculture education program.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

It is unlawful for any person to own or have in his or her possession, custody, charge or control any endangered species, exotic animal as defined in Section 6.04.110 or wild animal as defined in Section 6.04.230 unless approved by the director of community development, as a live animal event.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

Persons owning, caring for, or having control of any exotic or wild animal as defined in this chapter must post at entrances to the property where such animal is kept, a sign not less than fifteen inches square, containing the warning, both in written and pictorial form, that an exotic or wild animal is present. If in transit, any cages or containers used to hold such animals must have a clearly visible notice attached to such cage or container warning of the presence of an exotic or wild animal(s).

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

A. It is unlawful for any person owning or having possession, custody, charge, or control of any dangerous, exotic or wild animal to cause or permit the animal to run loose about the person's premises in a manner endangering any person lawfully entering such premises, or cause or permit the animal to be unrestrained upon or about any public street, sidewalk, park, schoolyard, or property of other persons.

B. For purposes of this section, lawful entry to a premises includes but is not limited to entry made by a person in the performance of any duty imposed upon that person by the laws of this state or any city or county or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when that person is on such property by reason of accident beyond control, or disaster, or by invitation either expressed or implied.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

No person shall import, export, take, possess, purchase, or sell any species that is determined to be an endangered species by the California Department of Fish and Game.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

Unless otherwise permitted by the zoning code of the city, no person shall keep any fowl as defined in Chapter 6.04 of this title, within the city limits, except in the agricultural zone or open space declared area. This section shall not apply to those animals that are being kept upon the premises of a public school in association with an agriculture education program.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

A. Unless otherwise permitted by the zoning code of the city, no person or persons, firm or corporation shall keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained within the city any canary, parrot, parakeet, macaw, or fowl as defined in Chapter 6.04 of this title, any bird of prey, or other bird, except under the following conditions:

1. No person shall raise, keep or have in his or her possession in the city, any live adult fowl or any other bird which because of its size, natural disposition, or any other characteristic constitutes a hazard or menace to persons or disturbs the peace.

2. Permitted birds shall be confined within a suitable house, cage, coop, or aviary after sundown.

3. Such birdhouse, cage, coop, aviary, or area where birds reside shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, shall be cleaned once a week or more often if necessary, and shall be free from offensive odors and insects.

4. Such birdhouse cage or coop shall be well lime-washed or painted once a year, or more often if necessary.

5. Except in the agricultural zone, where specific regulations apply, no part of any such birdhouse, cage, coop or aviary shall be less than fifty feet from any dwelling or place of business occupied by human beings for dwelling or business purposes.

6. No person shall keep or maintain any birdhouse, cage, coop or runway within ten feet of any property line of the lot or parcel of land upon which it is situated.

7. No person shall keep or maintain in the city, more than ten mature birds.

B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to those persons who maintain no more than four adult canaries, parakeets, parrots, dove or other similar birds that are customarily housed within a residence.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

A. "Bees" means honey-producing insects of the genus Apis. It includes all life stages of these insects.

B. Except in the agricultural zone or open space declared area, no person shall keep or maintain in the city any hive of bees unless otherwise permitted by the zoning code of the city.

C. Any person who keeps or maintains any hive of bees shall also comply with the following conditions:

1. No more than two hives can be maintained on any one lot or parcel of land.

2. Each hive or colony shall be located to the rear of a main structure and at least fifteen feet of any property line of the lot or parcel of land upon which it is situated. For the purpose of this section, "front property line" is defined as the sidewalk boundary farthest from the street.

3. Such hives or colonies shall be the property of, and maintained by, the residents of the property upon which the hives are located.

4. An adequate water supply shall be provided on-site at all times.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

No person owning or having possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal, except cats, shall cause, permit or allow the animal to stray, run, or in any other manner to be at large in or upon any public street, sidewalk, park or school ground, or upon any unenclosed lot or land.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

No person shall stake out, herd or graze any animal upon any unenclosed lot or land.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

Every person who by permit is allowed to keep livestock, dangerous or exotic animals within the city, when not in use shall keep them in secure enclosures at all times.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

All animals and all premises, enclosures or structures wherein animals are kept shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary and secure condition, free from all obnoxious odors and substances. All animals and all premises, enclosures or structures wherein animals are kept shall be thoroughly cleaned, and all debris, refuse, manure, urine, waste food, or other removable material shall be removed there from every day or more often as necessary.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

No person shall tie any animal to any city bicycle rack, or any shrub or tree growing upon or along any of the sidewalks or streets of the city.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

It is unlawful for the owner or person having custody of any dog or other animal to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such dog or animal to commit any act constituting a nuisance as defined in Civil Code Sections 3479 or 3480 as such sections may hereafter be amended, upon the sidewalk of any public street; or upon any walkway, path, grass or play area of any park or school; or upon the floor of any common hall in any apartment house, condominium complex, or any other community housing project, hotel or other multiple dwelling, or upon any entranceway, stairway or wall immediately abutting on a public sidewalk, or upon the floor of any theater, shop, store, office building or other building used in common by the public; or upon the floor or stairway of any depot or station or public waiting room; or upon any floor, stairway, entranceway, office lobby, foyer, patio or any other area used in common by the public.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

A. It is unlawful for any person, by any means, to slaughter any dog, cat, sheep, goat, pig, cow, horse, deer, elk, raccoon, coyote, mountain lion, llama, mule, squirrel or opossum within the city.

B. This section shall not apply to the act of putting to death any such animal by an animal control officer or police officer when the animal is dangerous or is so badly injured that humanity requires its removal from further suffering and no other disposition is practical.

C. This section shall not apply to the act of putting to death any such animal by a licensed veterinarian, an animal health technician or an unregistered assistant at the direction and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, or the administering of medication or drug for euthanasia of sick, injured, homeless, or unwanted domestic pets or animals by an employee of an animal shelter or humane society while in the course of such euthanasia who has received proper training in the administration of such medication or drug for such purposes.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

No person, business, firm, corporation or other entity shall operate a circus, rodeo, petting zoo or other live animal event, whether permanent or temporary, without the approval of the director of community development. Upon gaining such approval, the person, business, firm, corporation or other entity shall apply and obtain a permit from the animal control officer as prescribed in Chapter 6.30 of this title. The fee for this permit shall be as established per resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

Prior to the issuance of a permit for the establishment or commencement of a temporary or permanent live animal event the animal control officer shall inspect the facility or premises to assure that live animal event or exhibit is being conducted in accordance with the laws of this state and the provisions of this code. The animal control officer may impose any conditions he or she deems necessary to assure the safety of those persons attending the live animal event and the proper health and care of the animals involved in the live animal event. Any conditions imposed by the animal control officer shall be in writing and shall be included as part of the live animal event permit.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

The animal control officer shall cause periodic inspections of the live animal event, with or without notice, to assure compliance with state law, this code and any conditions imposed upon the issuance of the live animal event permit. Refusal to submit to an inspection shall be grounds for revocation of the permit.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful and constitutes an infraction for any person to violate, or fail to comply with any provision of this chapter. A second or subsequent violation of any section within this chapter may, at the discretion of the prosecuting attorney, constitute a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 1542 § 2, 2010)