Montebello Municipal Code Ch. 6.20 Wild or Vicious Animals

No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal, reptile or serpent described in Section 6.28.050, shall allow such animal, reptile or serpent within the enclosed premises of such person unless and until he has first secured a permit to do so and complies with all terms and conditions of such permit and, in addition thereto, such animal, reptile or serpent shall at all times be so confined, controlled and restrained in such manner so the life, limb or property of any person lawfully entering such premises shall not be endangered.

(Prior code § 4111)

The provision of this chapter shall not apply to animals which are kept confined in any public zoo, museum or circus, carnival, exhibition or show.

(Prior code § 4111.13)

The permit requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any person so keeping or maintaining or having in his possession or control any animal or reptile defined in Section 6.28.050 when such person is transporting such animal or reptile through the city, has taken adequate safeguards to protect the public, and has notified the local law enforcement agency of the proposed route of transportation and time thereof.

(Prior code § 4111.12)

Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall have, keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the city any animal or reptile described in Section 6.28.050 without first applying to and receiving a permit from the director to do so.

(Prior code § 4111.1)

An application for any permit required pursuant to this chapter shall be made to the director in writing and upon a form furnished by the director if so required. The application shall be verified by the person who desires to have, keep, maintain or have in his possession, or under his control, in the city, the animal or reptile for which a permit is required, and shall set forth the following:

A. Name, address and telephone number of the applicant;

B. The applicant's interest in such animal or reptile;

C. The proposed location, and the name, address and telephone number of the owner of such location, and of the lessee, if any;

D. The number and general description of all animals or reptiles for which the permit is sought;

E. Any information known to the applicant concerning vicious or dangerous propensities of all such animals or reptiles;

F. The housing arrangements for all such animals or reptiles with particular details as to safety of structure, locks, fencing, etc.;

G. Safety precautions proposed to be taken;

H. Noises or odors anticipated in the keeping of such animals or reptiles;

I. Prior history of incidents involving the public health or safety involving any of the animals or reptiles;

J. Any additional information required by the director at the time of filing such application or thereafter.

(Prior code § 4111.2)

The fee for a permit application for wild or dangerous animals shall be established by the director. The fee shall be payable to the director at the time of filing the permit application. Accretions by natural birth shall not require additional permits during the period of a valid permit. The fees are not refundable regardless of whether or not any permit is issued.

(Prior code § 4111.3)

Copies of any application for permit under this chapter shall be sent by the director to the law enforcement agency, planning department, and to any other department or agency from which information is sought, and no permit shall be granted without receipt of a report from the departments or agencies to which copies of the application have been sent, unless waived by the city manager for good cause.

(Prior code § 4111.4)

The director may, following application for a permit and pending final disposition of the same, grant a temporary permit for the maintenance within the city of any such animal or reptile upon such conditions as he shall, in his sole discretion, require when, in his opinion there is no reasonable doubt as to the consistency thereof with the public health, safety and general welfare, but no animal or reptile shall be otherwise kept or maintained within the city or permitted to occupy any premises within the city, except while such a regular or temporary permit is in full force and effect.

(Prior code § 4111.7)

No permit shall be granted except with the conditions attached as shall, in the opinion of the person or agency approving such permit, reasonably ensure the public health, safety and general welfare, and no permit shall be granted in any event for any animal, reptile or serpent at any particular location except upon an explicit finding by the person or agency approving such permit that the issuance thereof will not be contrary to the public health, safety and general welfare.

(Prior code § 4111.6)

No permit required by this chapter shall be granted for a period in excess of one year. An application for renewal of any permit shall be made not less than forty-five days prior to the expiration thereof, and shall be accompanied by the same fee as required upon making the original application or the payment of a lesser fee when, in the opinion of the director the public health, safety and general welfare do not require further investigation prior to such renewal.

(Prior code § 4111.9)

The director shall take possession of any animal or reptile described under section 6.28.050 for which a permit has not been issued, or if previously issued has been revoked, and keep the same until the proper permit has been secured by the owner thereof and shall release the same to the owner when all fees and costs have been paid and all laws and permit conditions complied with.

(Prior code § 4111.8)

A. The director may, for good cause, revoke any permit or modify any terms or provisions thereof, except permits which have been approved by the planning commission or city council, after informal public hearing, and may, in the event it is reasonably necessary to protect against an immediate threat or danger to the public health or safety, suspend any permit or portion thereof without hearing for a period not to exceed thirty days.

B. Any person aggrieved by such action may, upon payment of an appeal fee have such action reviewed by the city council but the filing of an appeal shall not stay any order of suspension.

(Prior code §§ 4111.10 and 4111.11)

A. Any person dissatisfied with the ruling of the director may, within ten days thereafter, appeal the decision to the city council. Such appeal shall be a simple statement in writing setting forth in common terms the basis of the appeal.

B. An appeal fee, as established by the director, shall be required for each appeal to the city council. No appeal shall be placed on the agenda of any meeting of the city council until such fee has been paid.

(Prior code § 4111.5)