Morro Bay Municipal Code Ch. 7.08 Other Animals, Poultry and Birds

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 669, adopted May 13, 2025, repealed the former Ch. 7.08, §§ 7.08.010—7.08.310, and enacted a new Ch. 7.08 as set out herein. The former Ch. 7.08 pertained to dogs and derived from Ord. 387 § 1 (part), adopted in 1991; and Ord. 480 (part), adopted in 2000.

The city is designated a bird sanctuary, and signs bearing the legend "Morro Bay is a bird sanctuary" shall be placed at appropriate locations at or near the city limits at principal entrances to the city.

(Ord. No. 669, § 2, 5-13-25)

No person shall trap, shoot, hunt, molest, injure or kill any wild birds, or tamper, damage or destroy the nests or eggs of any wild birds within the city. Should the city council determine by resolution that birds protected under this chapter have become so numerous or destructive in any particular location or area as to constitute a menace and danger to the public health, safety or property, the council may provide for such remedies appropriate under the circumstances.

(Ord. No. 669, § 2, 5-13-25)

A. No person shall keep upon any premises in the city more than twelve of any poultry, rabbits, or other fowl:

1. Within fifty feet of any dwelling; and

2. The owner or person in charge of such rabbits, poultry or other fowl kept in the city shall provide suitable houses or cotes with board or cement floors in each and every house and cote and such houses, cotes or pens shall at all times be kept clean.

B. No rooster over four months old shall be kept on any premises in the city, unless the premises involved is operating on a commercial basis or is on an agricultural zoned parcel in conformance with existing zoning regulations and state statutes governing such commercial operation.

(Ord. No. 669, § 2, 5-13-25)

A. Except as otherwise permitted in this chapter, no person shall own, keep, maintain, stake or pasture any bovine, swine, sheep, goat, horse or other livestock upon any premises in the city unless the lot or parcel size is a minimum twenty thousand square feet or, the parcel is in a properly zoned agricultural district in which case the number of animals shall not exceed the maximum density allowed for such animals pursuant to section 17.30.060 of this code.

B. All such fences, enclosures, corrals or pens used to restrain such animals in this section must be of adequate materials and properly maintained to humanely enclose and protect the animals and prevent the trespass of such animals upon any private property or upon any street or other public place.

(Ord. No. 669, § 2, 5-13-25)

Pygmy livestock may be kept or maintained upon any premises subject to the following conditions:

A. Male pygmy livestock must be neutered before they reach sexual maturity.

B. Pygmy livestock shall be subject to the leash law.

C. No person or persons may own, harbor, or maintain or cause to be maintained more than two pygmy animals at any dwelling within the city, unless such dwelling is on a parcel that meets the size and zoning criteria as contained in section 7.16.040 in which case the number of animals shall be limited to the maximum listed density allowed as codified.

(Ord. No. 669, § 2, 5-13-25)