Monrovia Municipal Code Ch. 6.28 Animal Keeping Regulations

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(A) Sell, offer for sale, barter or give away, upon any street or sidewalk of the city, or in any public place in the city, as pets or novelties:

(1) Any fish, turtle, snake, lizard, chameleon or other reptile;

(2) Any bird, cat, dog, fowl, guinea pig, rodent or other animal;

(B) Color, dye, stain or otherwise change the natural color of the above-described.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.010)

This chapter does not prohibit the display or sales of rodents, natural chicks, ducklings, or other fowls, in proper facilities by dealers, hatcheries or stores engaged in the business of selling the same, to be raised for food purposes; nor does it prohibit the display or sale of cats, dogs, fowls, fish, rabbits, or other animals in licensed pet shops, kennels, aviaries, or fish hatcheries.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.020)

Unless licensed as a kennel or cattery pursuant to § 6.28.110, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain more than a total combination of four dogs and cats on any lot or premises for any purpose. Of the total of four animals permitted on-site, no more than three dogs over four months of age and or no more than four cats over four months of age can be kept. Other combinations not exceeding these maximums shall also be permitted. In addition, one pot-bellied pig shall be allowed per lot or premises.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.030) (Ord. 95-03 § 3, 1995; Ord. 2000-03 § 1, 2000)

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than ten rabbits, poultry or domestic fowls.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.040) (Ord. 82-39 § 1, 1982)

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain more than one pot-bellied pig on any lot or premise.

(B) Pot-bellied pigs shall be spayed or neutered by the age of six months and a certificate of sterilization shall be produced upon request by the city.

(C) Only pot-bellied pigs that are under 175 pounds shall be allowed on a lot or premise.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.045) (Ord. 95-03 § 4, 1995; Ord. 2000-03 § 1, 2000)

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animal other than dogs, cats, rabbits, poultry and domestic fowls, on a lot in any zone specified in Title 17 of this code, except as follows:

(A) That such animals are permitted only on a lot or parcel of land having an area of not less than 20,000 square feet in the RE zone; not less than one and one-half acres in the RF zone; not less than 14,000 square feet in all other zones;

(B) That such animals are not kept or fenced within 50 feet of any residence or other structure used for the habitation of human beings (including accessory living quarters, patios and swimming pools), or within 100 feet of any school, hospital, rest home, sanitarium, church or similar institution;

(C) That such animals shall have a minimum of 400 square feet of usable space for each animal;

(D) That the number of such animals shall be limited to the following:

(1) Two on 14,000 square feet or more, up to

(2) Three on 27,500 square feet or more, up to

(3) Four on 35,000 square feet or more, up to

(4) Five on one acre or more, up to

(5) A maximum of ten on two acres or more; the Planning Commission shall have the discretion to increase the maximum number above ten by the procedure for conditional use permits as provided in this code.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.050) (Ord. 82-39 § 2, 1982; Ord. 91-05 § 3, 1991)

It shall be unlawful for any person on any lot or parcel within the city to keep or maintain any animal, fowl or bird, wild or domestic, other than dogs, cats, canaries, or birds of the psittacine family (resembling parrots) within 50 feet of any residence or other structure used for habitation of human beings (including accessory living quarters, patios and swimming pools), or 100 feet from any school, hospital, rest home, sanitarium, church or similar institution, or within 75 feet of any dedicated street or private way in the city on which the property has frontage. The keeping of such animals, fowls and birds shall be confined to the rear yard of the premises as defined in Title 17 of this code. Where the rear yard is insufficient to keep such rabbits, fowls, birds and animals, and only where the property has frontage on a dedicated street or private way in excess of 150 feet, such rabbits, fowls, birds or animals may be kept elsewhere on the lot subject to the approval of the Development Review Committee; provided, however, that no structure sheltering any such rabbit, fowl, bird or animal shall be visible from any street, alley or other public right-of-way.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.060) (Ord. 82-39 § 3, 1982)

(A) Except as provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep on any lot within the city, the following:

(1) Swine, hogs or pigs (except Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs);

(2) Dangerous or poisonous reptiles;

(3) Wild animals;

(4) Bees.

(B) The Planning Commission may grant a conditional use permit for keeping of such animals or reptiles subject to the following conditions:

(1) The animals or reptiles are maintained within an educational institution as defined by the Cal. Education Code;

(2) The animals or reptiles are used exclusively for scientific or medical research;

(3) The animals or reptiles are part of a commercial venture operated in a commercial zone, or less restrictive zone.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.070) (Ord. 95-03 § 5, 1995)

(A) No person shall knowingly maintain or permit any animal or condition created by an animal, which because of noise, or for whatever reason, disturbs the peace and quiet of another person, or causes foul or offensive odors, or which, by the dangerous nature thereof, shall disturb the peace, safety or comfort of any neighborhood or any person, or interfere with any person in the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property.

(B) No person shall knowingly own, keep, harbor or otherwise maintain any dog which, because of barking, disturbs the peace and quiet of another person or interferes with any person’s reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property.

(C) No person shall tease, torment or otherwise provoke a dog into barking.

(D) The owner or other person having care or control of any animal after receiving notice, orally and in writing, of any person, of a condition set forth in § 6.28.070, shall forthwith take all steps reasonably necessary, to eliminate the conditions set forth in the notice.

(E) No person shall permit any animal in his ownership or possession to defecate on the property in the possession or ownership of another.

(F) Notwithstanding § 6.04.040 of this title, any person who violates divisions (B) or (C) of this section shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to the penalty therefore as set forth in § 1.16.020 of this code and, at the discretion of the City Manager, or his or her designee, may be subject to an administrative citation and civil fine pursuant to a citation as set forth in Chapter 1.17 of Title 1 of this code.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.080) (Ord. 2010-18 § 3, 2010)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, leave or expose, in any place accessible to birds, fowls, domestic animals, dogs, cats or other such animals with the intent to kill or harm such birds, fowls or animals, any poisonous substance or ingredient which has in any manner been treated or prepared with any poisonous substance or ingredient.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.090)

Every person maintaining a pet shop shall cause a notice, framed and enclosed under glass, containing the names, addresses and telephone numbers of persons to be notified during any hour of the day or night, who will proceed immediately to the location so as to permit entry to the premises by the Animal Control Officer or by a representative of the Police Department, to be posted on the premises near the entrance. Said notice shall be in such a position as to be legible from the sidewalk or ground level adjacent to the building.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.100)

(A) Every person who operates a kennel or cattery as a business, trade or occupation shall pay an annual license fee therefor as provided in Chapters 5.04 through 5.12 of this code.

(B) Every person who operates a kennel or cattery other than as a trade, business or occupation shall obtain a kennel permit the annual fee for which shall be the same as for a kennel or cattery operated as a business, trade or occupation.

(C) No person shall operate a kennel or cattery without first obtaining a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission pursuant to Chapter 17.52 of this code.

(D) The requirements of this chapter shall be deemed to be in addition to and not in limitation of the requirement of any applicable zoning laws or ordinances. A kennel and/or cattery license or permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall cease to be valid if the operation of a kennel and/or cattery should become a prohibited use for the zone in which it is then located.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.110) (Ord. 94-03 § 2, 1994)

Any lot or premises which does not conform with the provisions of this chapter must be brought into conformance within one year after the effective date of this chapter, being July 18, 1972.

(`83 Code, § 6.28.120)