Gridley Municipal Code Ch. 6.08 Keeping of Animals

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following definitions:

A. Animal - refers to animal species which are traditionally domesticated, including dogs, birds, rabbits, and cats.

B. Bird - refers to birds which are small in size and subject to domestication, including but not limited to budgies, canaries, doves, pigeons, parakeets, cockatiels, cockatoos and the like.

C. Domestic fowl - refers to any larger domestic bird generally used for food, including but not limited to ducks, geese and turkeys.

D. Livestock - "Livestock" refers to animals traditionally kept for use on a farm, including swine, sheep, goats, horses, cattle, domestic fowl, and poultry.

E. Running at large - "Running at large" means free of restraint beyond the boundaries of the premises of the owner or custodian.

F. Any reference to "person" shall include:

1. The person, persons, firm or corporation owning, keeping, maintaining or possessing one or more animals, birds, domestic fowl, poultry, or livestock.

2. Those persons who are caretakers with respect to animals, birds, domestic fowl, livestock, even if such person is not the owner thereof.

(Ord. 809-2014 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 789-2009 (part), 2010; Ord. 627 (part), 1994)

A. Crowing roosters and other disturbances. It is unlawful and it is declared to be a nuisance for any person to keep, unreasonably maintain or have in their possession any bird, fowl, animal or livestock which disturbs the peace and quiet of any person or interferes with the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property. Specifically, and without limitation to the preceding sentence, any crowing rooster shall be declared to be a nuisance and it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, or have in their possession a crowing rooster.

B. Proximity to structures. No person shall keep any animal, bird, domestic fowl, livestock, or poultry within one hundred (100) feet of any church, school, hospital or place where food products are kept, stored, manufactured or served to the public.

C. Number of animals. It is unlawful, and it is declared to be a nuisance, for any person to keep, maintain or have in their possession more than four (4) of any animal as defined in Section 6.08.010, Definitions, on their property plus an additional maximum of four (4) female poultry (hens/pullets). It is unlawful, and it is declared to be a nuisance, for any person to keep, maintain or have in their possession any rooster or capon. Veterinary hospitals and pet shops shall be excepted from the numerical limitations of this subsection. It is further a nuisance and unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in their possession any combination of animal, bird, domestic fowl, livestock, or poultry which by their numbers or by the way in which they are maintained, disturb the peace and quiet of any person or interfere with the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property.

D. Wild animals. It is declared to be a nuisance for any person to keep, maintain or have in their possession any wild animals, or any animal not generally considered to be subject to domestication such as lions, tigers, bears and the like.

E. Bees. No person shall possess or keep any bees (or any insects of the genus apis).

(Ord. 809-2014 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord 627 (part), 1994; Ord 45 (3), 1936)

A. All birds, domestic fowl, animals, livestock, and poultry shall be confined on the premises of the owner thereof, except when properly restrained as on a leash or caged.

B. Any bird, domestic fowl, animal, livestock, or poultry not confined on the premises of the owner and found to be running at large or trespassing on private or public property and unrestrained is hereby declared to be a nuisance and shall be subject to impound.

C. All birds, domestic fowl, animals, livestock, and poultry shall be maintained in proper cages, implements or other structures, which shall be kept and maintained in a clean and sanitary fashion, free of waste, parasites or other health hazards.

D. The keeping of poultry shall comply with the following conditions:

1. A maximum of four female poultry would be permitted in the “AR, RE, RS, R-1, and R-2” districts, and on property zoned “C-1 or C-2” district if the single family residential dwelling unit is in conformity with the requirements of Chapters 17.32 and 17.34 .

2. A coop shall be maintained that provides clean shelter, protection from weather, and perches and nesting boxes. The coop shall be provided with adequate siding to mitigate sound impacts, if necessary. Wire mesh shall be provided to ensure air-flow through the coop on portions of the sides of the structure. The coop shall be constructed above ground. Straw or woodchips shall be provided below the coop.

3. The area shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times, and all animal waste shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

4. Poultry must be kept in an enclosed fenced backyard area at all times and shall not be allowed to roam freely within the neighborhood.

5. The owner is responsible for practicing standard animal husbandry and is required to maintain poultry in a healthy condition and have them inoculated if available or recommended by the USDA.

6. The city’s Animal Control Officer/Code Enforcement Officer or designee shall be allowed onto a site to inspect the premises upon receipt of a complaint.

(Ord. 809-2014 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord 627 (part), 1994; Ord 47 (1), 1936)

This chapter shall be read in keeping with other portions of other sections of this code and shall not authorize the keeping of any animal, bird, domestic fowl, livestock, or poultry to the extent that the keeping of the same is prohibited by some other provision of this code (i.e. this chapter provides certain prohibitions and mandatory duties with respect to the keeping of animal, bird, domestic fowl, livestock, or poultry, but does not authorize or empower the keeping of such animal, bird, domestic fowl, livestock, or poultry to the extent that some other provision of this code prohibits such activity).

(Ord. 809-2014 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 627, (part), 1994; Ord 545 (1), 1989)

A. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine in the sum of not less that twenty-five dollars ($25), nor more than fifty dollars ($50). Each day that a violation exists shall be considered a separate violation within the meaning of this section.

B. Upon any second or subsequent violation of this chapter, the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine in a sum not less that one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), or by imprisonment not exceeding twenty (20) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The penalties provided herein are cumulative to any other remedy allowed under the law.

(Ord. 627, (part), 1994; Ord 45 (3), 1936)