Calaveras County Municipal Code Ch. 6.18 Kennel Licenses

Every person who is the owner of four or more dogs or five or more cats which are not subject to an animal permit, as provided for in Chapter 6.16 of this title, shall obtain a kennel license from the director or reduce the number of dogs and/or cats they own to no more than three individually licensed dogs and/or four cats within thirty days of being denied such license by the director.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

There shall be two types of kennel licenses which the director may issue.

A. Private kennel license;

B. Commercial kennel license.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

The director may issue a private kennel license to persons keeping dogs or cats intended for exhibition in conformation, field trials, or other activities such as obedience training, hunting, herding, tracking, rescue, or service work, or which are bred or raised for such purposes, provided all of the following conditions and the requirements contained in Section 6.18.050 of this chapter are met.

A. The land on which a private kennel is located is properly zoned for such use in Title 17 of this code.

B. Private kennel licenses shall be restricted as to the maximum number of dogs and/or cats over the age of four months on the basis of parcel size:

1. 5.00-9.99 acre parcels, no more than a total of ten dogs and/or cats.

2. 10.00-14.99 acre parcels, no more than a total of fifteen dogs and/or cats.

3. 15.00 acre and larger parcels, no more than a total of twenty dogs and/or cats.

C. Breeding shall be limited to no more than two specific breeds. There is, however, no limit on the number of breeds that may be kept at a private kennel.

D. Breeding at an appropriate kennel shall be restricted to no more than four litters of puppies or kittens within a two-year period. For the purposes of this section, a litter shall be a minimum of three live puppies or kittens at the age of six weeks.

E. Private kennels shall have sufficient animal enclosures or runs to isolate females in heat from males in order to control breeding.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

The director may issue a commercial kennel license to persons keeping dogs or cats where the primary purpose of such activity is for financial gain. Commercial kennels may engage in all activities allowed and authorized under a private kennel, commercial boarding and breeding for the purpose of selling such offspring provided all of the following conditions and the requirements contained in Section 6.18.050 of this chapter are met.

A. The land on which a commercial kennel is located is properly zoned for such use as specified in Title 17 of this code.

B. No commercial kennel shall be operated and no animals shall be housed therein until such time as the facility has been deemed complete by the county building official and a license has been issued by the director.

C. All enclosures and animal runs shall be constructed of nonabsorbent materials and sloped in such a manner as to facilitate drainage into an approved sewer or septage system.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

Every private and commercial kennel shall comply with the following:

A. Every dog over the age of four months, subject to a kennel license, shall have a current rabies vaccination and such records shall be made available to the director upon request.

B. No dog over the age of four months shall be boarded at any licensed kennel unless the owner of such dog provides proof of current rabies vaccination. The owner of the kennel shall retain a copy of such rabies vaccination certificates and make them available to the director upon request.

C. All dogs and cats subject to a kennel license shall be kept in such a manner as not to become a nuisance to surrounding and nearby neighbors.

D. All kennel facilities shall be structurally sound and kept in good repair at all times for the health and well being of the animals housed therein, restrict entry by unauthorized persons or unwanted animals, and prevent the escape of kenneled animals.

E. All kennel facilities including, but not limited to, buildings, enclosures, and runs shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. All animal waste shall be removed and disposed of on a daily basis.

F. All licensed kennels shall, at a minimum, conform to the latest version of the Animal Welfare Act and 9CFR Subpart A-Specifications for the Humane Holding, Care, Treatment, and Transportation of Dogs and Cats, or local standards, whichever is more restrictive.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

Application for a kennel license shall be made in writing to the director by the owner of the kennel to be licensed. Such application shall be on a form approved by the director and shall be accompanied by a license fee in the amount established by resolution of the board. Such license fee shall be in lieu of any license fees required in Section 6.14.020 of this title. The applicant shall obtain approval for the kennel from all related departments including, but not limited to, zoning, building permits, business license, and fictitious business name prior to submitting an application for a new kennel to the director. If the owner of a kennel fails to make application for a kennel license or renewal of a kennel license within thirty days after receipt of notice from the director to obtain or renew a kennel license, the owner shall pay a penalty for late licensing in an amount established by resolution of the board.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

All kennel licenses shall expire on the last day of the twelfth month from the date of issuance and shall become delinquent if not renewed within thirty days of said expiration.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

The owner of a kennel may keep spayed or neutered dogs and cats without individually licensing said animals provided the maximum number of animals for which the licenses was issued is not exceeded. The owner of a kennel may keep three spayed or neutered dogs over the age of four months in addition to the maximum number of dogs allowed under the kennel license, provided such dogs are individually licensed in accordance with Section 6.14.020 and currently vaccinated for rabies in accordance with Section 6.14.070 of this title. The owner of a kennel may keep four spayed or neutered cats over the age of four months in addition to the maximum number of cats allowed under the kennel license.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

Kennel licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall be transferable to new owners or leasees of the real property for which a license has been issued provided the zoning, parcel size, and maximum number of animals remains the same.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

The director shall, prior to the issuance of a new kennel license and prior to the renewal of an existing kennel license, inspect the premises to insure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The director may, periodically, inspect licensed kennels to insure compliance with the provisions of this chapter at any reasonable hour of the day. The director shall notify the owner of the kennel, in writing, of any violations observed at the time of inspection and provide the owner a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed thirty days to make any necessary corrections.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).

The director may, after investigation, deny or revoke a kennel license for failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Such denial or revocation shall be made subject to Section 6.04.100 and is subject to appeal in accordance with Section 6.04.110 of this title.

(Ord. 2641 (part), 2001).