Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 6.28 Commercial Animal Regulations

A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to erect, establish or maintain any commercial animal establishment, non-profit animal establishment, or veterinary hospital, without first obtaining from the city: (1) a business license; and (2) a special use permit, if applicable. The requirement to obtain a business license shall be in addition to any breeder or other permits that may be required by this code. After inspection and approval of the conditions of the commercial animal establishment, non-profit animal establishment, or veterinary hospital by the animal shelter, animal control officer, or city designee, the required business license and special use permit, if applicable, may be issued by the city.

B. Every person within the city who owns, conducts, manages, or operates any commercial animal establishment, non-profit animal establishment, or veterinary hospital shall, in addition to satisfying license and permit requirements, comply with each of the following ongoing conditions:

1. Housing facilities shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect animals from injury and restrict entrance of other animals;

2. All animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition;

3. All animals shall be supplied with sufficient good and wholesome food and water as often as the feeding habits of the respective animals require;

4. Animal buildings and enclosures shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent escape of animals;

5. All reasonable precautions shall be taken to protect the public from the animals and the animals from the public;

6. Every building or enclosure wherein animals are maintained shall be properly ventilated to prevent drafts and to remove odors. Heating and cooling shall be provided as required according to the physical needs of the animals;

7. All animal rooms, cages, and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper housing for animals kept therein;

8. All animal runs shall be of concrete and provided with adequate drainage into an approved sewer or individual sewer disposal installation;

9. All animals shall be taken to a licensed veterinarian for an examination and treatment if so ordered by the animal control officer;

10. Every violation of applicable regulations shall be corrected within a reasonable time to be specified by the animal control officer;

11. Commercial animal establishments, non-profit animal establishments, and veterinary hospitals shall comply with all other applicable city codes and ordinances;

12. All commercial animal establishments, non-profit animal establishments, and veterinary hospitals may be inspected from time to time by an animal control officer to investigate any complaints of violations of the provisions of this chapter.

C. Failure to comply with any one of the foregoing conditions shall be deemed just cause for the denial or revocation of any business license, special use permit, or any other permit or license issued by the city under which the commercial animal establishment or veterinary hospital operates, whether original or renewal, and/or the issuance of a citation for violations pursuant to provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

A. It is unlawful for any person to breed dogs and/or cats for sale or profit or to advertise for the sale or adoption of such animals without first obtaining a breeder permit.

B. The fees for a breeder permit shall be set by resolution of the city council and must be submitted to the animal control officer for the breeding of dogs or cats, as well as advertising for the sale or adoption of dogs and cats that are bred within the city limits. Breeding permit requirements are as follows:

1. No offspring can be sold or adopted until eight weeks of age;

2. No offspring can be sold or adopted until vaccinated against common diseases;

3. The breeder permit holder must identify his/her/its permit number when advertising the animals for sale or adoption.

C. It is unlawful for any person to advertise for the sale or adoption of a litter of dogs or cats in the city without including in the advertisement a city breeder permit number.

D. A breeder permit shall be in addition to other requirements and conditions that must be satisfied under this code in order to undertake animal breeding operations within the city (e.g., city business permit, special use permit, etc.).

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

It is unlawful for any person(s) or entity that is not a commercial animal establishment, non-profit animal establishment, or veterinary hospital, to own, maintain, or harbor on a single property within the city more than the maximum number of animals identified in Section 6.12.010 of this code without first obtaining a multi-pet permit from the animal control officer or city designee. The issuance of the permit shall be at the discretion of the animal control officer or city designee who shall take into consideration the manner in which the animals are housed, sanitation and noise factors.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

A. Application for all breeder or multi-pet permits pursuant to this chapter shall be filed with the, animal control officer or city designee on a form prescribed by the city. Fees charged for these permits shall be set by resolution of the city council as recommended by the Animal Control Officer or city designee. Permits shall be issued for the calendar year or any part thereof and are effective from January 1st of each year and expire on December 31st of that same year. If a permit is issued during a month other than January, the permit fee shall be prorated with respect to the month during which issuance occurs (e.g., the permit fee for a permit issued in February will be 11/12ths of the full annual fee). Renewal and payment of the permit is due and payable on January 1st of each year. The city designee shall collect a delinquent penalty in an amount equal to the amount as established for license penalties.

B. The failure to obtain the appropriate permit is punishable as an infraction as set forth herein.

C. Any or all of the permits within this code may be immediately suspended for any violations of the conditions of this title.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Every commercial animal establishment, holder of a breeder permit, and others who sell/adopt animals for consideration must keep permanent records of all dogs/cats sold/adopted and forward such information on a monthly basis to the animal control officer or city designee for licensing and confirmation of rabies vaccination.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)