Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 9 Livestock and Poultry

It shall be unlawful to keep any equine, bovine, swine, sheep or goat within the corporate City limits, without first securing a livestock permit from the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee. Every such person desiring to keep such livestock shall file an application for a permit with the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee containing such information as the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee shall require.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

No person may maintain any livestock or poultry within the corporate City limits unless expressly permitted by the zoning regulations. All provisions of the Zoning Code of the City shall govern the issuance and validity of any permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

Each application for a license or permit required by this chapter shall be in writing upon a form to be furnished by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee and shall contain such information as the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee shall require.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

The fee for a license or permit required by the provisions of this chapter shall be set by resolution of the City Council, which may be amended from time-to-time, and shall be paid to the City of Irvine before a license is issued. Thereafter, unless otherwise provided, each fee shall be paid annually in accordance with such resolution.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

A. The animal services officer may, after inspection of those animals and facilities for which the application is filed, and after review of any voluntary or solicited community input, and any other related information pertaining to the keeping of livestock, recommend that such a permit be issued and shall determine the number of animals that are reasonable to be kept at the location. The Director of Public Safety or his or her designee may, after consideration of the officer's report and recommendations, and other related information or community input, issue a permit to the applicant, if he or she finds that all of the following conditions are met:

1. The keeping of animals in the manner and at the place set forth in the application will not violate any applicable federal, State, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.

2. The keeping of said animals will not endanger the health, peace or safety of the community.

3. The premises where the animals are kept will be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and the animals will not be subject to suffering, cruelty or abuse.

4. The applicant has not had a similar permit denied or revoked within six months prior to the current application being reviewed.

5. The applicant has not been convicted of any offense involving the violation of California Penal Code §§ 596 through 599, inclusive, or any successor statutes thereto, or any provision of this chapter, or any applicable federal, State, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.

6. The applicant has at no time failed to provide any animal in his or her possession, care or control with sufficient food, drink or shelter.

7. The applicant can comply with any conditions or restrictions that may be deemed appropriate by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee.

B. If the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee finds that one or more of the conditions set forth above are not satisfied, he or she shall deny the permit.

C. A decision of the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee to grant or deny a permit may be appealed by the applicant or any aggrieved person. All appeals shall be made as prescribed in Chapter 14 this division.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in any license or permit issued under the provisions of this chapter is a violation of this Municipal Code subject to the enforcement and revocation or suspension procedures as prescribed and set forth in Chapter 13 of this division. A license or permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked or suspended upon failure of the licensee or permittee to comply with:

1. Any of the conditions or terms of approval of such license or permit; or

2. Any applicable federal, State, or local law, regulation or ordinance in the exercise of any rights under said license or permit.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

A. No person shall keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained within the corporate City limits poultry in excess of two, or rabbits in excess of two, over four months of age, except under the following conditions:

1. Such poultry and rabbits shall under no circumstances be permitted to run at large but shall be at all times confined within a suitable house or coop with enclosed runway. Under such conditions, the maximum number shall not exceed a total of four poultry and/or rabbits.

2. Such house or coop runway shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, shall provide protection from the weather, and shall at all times be free from offensive odors.

3. Clean potable water shall be available to the poultry and/or rabbits in conformance with the principles of good animal husbandry unless restricted by a veterinarian. Water receptacles, containers or dispensers shall be kept clean and sanitary at all times.

4. Food receptacles shall be accessible to all poultry and/or rabbits unless restricted by a veterinarian and shall be located so as to minimize contamination by excreta. Food contaminated by urine shall be discarded and replaced with fresh uncontaminated food. Disposable receptacles may be used, but should be discarded after each use. Self-feeders may be used for the feeding of dry food and seed, but they must be kept clean and free of mold, deterioration and the caking of food.

5. No person shall maintain any house or coop within 30 feet of any dwelling unit other than that of the owner of the poultry and/or rabbits.

B. This section does not pertain to the uses within the 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 zones.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

Every owner, keeper, custodian or harborer of livestock permitted by this chapter shall erect and/or maintain a fence as prescribed by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee. Said fence shall be in compliance with all City and State regulations pertaining to the temporary or permanent housing or confinement of the animal or animals for which the permit is granted and the fence is erected or maintained.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or stake, or fail to confine or control, or cause, or permit any animal to be placed, staked or to graze or be upon the land of another without the written consent of the owner or other authorized person. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to confine or control or permit, allow or cause any animal to be upon any public lands, streets, schoolyards, common areas, parks, open spaces, trails or highways, or to allow any such animal described in this chapter to run at large.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

The animal services officer shall take into custody and impound any animal found in violation of this chapter and he or she shall have a lien upon such animal or animals sufficient to secure the payment of all expenses incurred by reason of his or her seizing, keeping and caring for such animal or animals.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

Upon the impounding of any bovine animal, horse, mule, or burro, the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee shall immediately notify the secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture. Upon receipt of that notice, the secretary shall take possession of any bovine animal and shall dispose of it pursuant to State law.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

A. If no person claims the animal or animals impounded under this section within 14 days, or if a person does appear and claims the animal or animals but fails to pay the expenses as provided by resolution of the City Council, which may be amended from time-to-time, the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee shall proceed to sell or cause to be sold such animal or animals, except bovines or equines, at public sale in accordance with general procedure provided in the law concerning the sale or execution of such animal or animals or personal property. In the case of bovine or equines, the impounding agent or agency shall comply with notice requirements prescribed by Section 4-5-911 of this chapter and California Food and Agricultural Code § 17003, or any successor statute thereto.

B. In lieu of public sale, the Director of Public Safety or Director of Community and Library Services or their designee may sell such unclaimed animals, except bovines and equines, at private sale without notice. In the alternative, the Director of Community and Library Services or their designee may dispose of said animal, except bovines or equines, in a humane manner.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09; Ord. No. 25-09, § 2(Exh. A), 5-13-25)

No person shall keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained within the corporate City limits any roosters unless they are kept or housed in an area expressly permitted by the Zoning Code.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)

Any decision of the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee to grant or deny a livestock permit may be appealed in accordance with the procedures prescribed and set forth in Chapter 14 of this division.

(Ord. No. 09-10, § 1, 9-22-09)