Monterey Municipal Code § 6-1 Animals running at large prohibited

No person shall allow any horse, mule, ass, kine, hog, sheep or goat to run at large within the City.

No chicken or other domestic fowl shall be allowed to run at large within the City.

No person shall cause any animal to be pastured, grazed, staked, tied or kept on any public street, alley or way, or on any public property, park, place or plaza in the City.

No person shall keep any horse, cow, goat or sheep on private property within the City except in securely fenced areas, enclosures or corrals. No horses, cows, goats or sheep shall be kept in any such fenced area, enclosure or corral which is located within 75 feet of any other person’s dwelling, or any structure used for residential purposes, and unless at least 2,500 square feet of area is provided in such fenced area, enclosure or corral per animal; provided that the Chief of Police and the health officer may issue one of the following permits:

a.An annual permit for a calendar year, or portion thereof, when the fenced areas, enclosures, or corrals are located at least 50 feet from any other person’s dwelling, or any structure used for residential purposes, and have at least 2,500 square feet in area for each animal, and all adult residents within 300 feet of such area, enclosure of corral consent, in writing, to the issuance of such permit.

b.A temporary permit for not to exceed one week in any calendar month to permit such animals to be located in such fenced areas, enclosures or corrals, less than 75 feet but not less than 20 feet from another person’s dwelling, or any structure used for residential purposes, upon satisfactory evidence being furnished to him that the granting of such permit will not adversely affect the peace, health, safety and general welfare of the immediate neighborhood.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter or any other ordinance of the City controlling or regulating swine, cows, goats, sheep, horses or other animals customarily shown at fairs, the 7th District Agricultural Association, and persons exhibiting at the 7th District Agricultural Annual Fair, held in the City, may for a period from one week before to one week after such fair show animals on such 7th District’s fairgrounds, subject to the rules and regulations of the 7th District Agricultural Fair Board.

a.On and after August 1, 2026, roosters are prohibited in the City. This section shall not prohibit the 7th District Agricultural Association from having or maintaining roosters for educational or exhibition purposes.

b.Any person keeping or maintaining any hen or other domestic fowl within the City shall provide an enclosure of metal chicken wire, or other suitable material, of sufficient height and so constructed as to prevent the escape therefrom of any such fowl and shall preserve such enclosure in good repair.

c.All hens and other domestic fowl shall be kept and maintained securely in an enclosure as provided for in this section. (Ord. 3717 § 3, 2026)

No person shall display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any baby chicks, rabbits, ducklings or other fowl or animals as novelties or prizes, whether or not dyed, colored or otherwise artificially treated.

This Section shall not be construed to prohibit the display or sale of natural chicks, rabbits, ducklings or other fowl or animals in proper facilities by dealers, hatcheries, or stores engaged in the business of selling the same to be raised for food purposes.