Palmdale Municipal Code Ch. 17.89 Animal Keeping (CA)

§ 17.89.010. Purpose.¶

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish regulations governing the keeping of animals where accessory to the residential use of a property.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 17.89.020. Applicability.¶

This Section shall apply to all agricultural and residentially designated properties.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

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§ 17.89.030. General provisions.¶

(A) Types of animals allowed:

(1) Dogs.

(2) Cats.

(3) Large animals, including horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, hogs, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other similar hooved animals, may be kept on a lot or parcel of land having an area of not less than 20,000 square feet.

(4) Other domestic creatures which are neither farm animals, exotic, nor wild animals, such as canaries, parakeets, cockatiels, and other similar birds; tropical fish excluding caribe; turtles; white mice, white rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and similar small rodents; snakes and reptiles; and other similar animals commonly sold in pet stores and kept as household pets.

(5) Poultry and fowl, excluding roosters and peafowl, on a lot or parcel of land, not having less than 20,000 square feet; provided, that said birds are kept or maintained for the private use of members of the family residing on the premises.

(6) Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs maintained as pets.

(7) Bees.

(B) Limitations.

(1) The allowable number of animals shall be limited as outlined within the following table:

Table 17.89.030-1. Allowed Number Animals

Type of Animal	All Zones Where Allowed Pursuant to Divisions 3 – 7 of This Title	All Zones Where Allowed Pursuant to Divisions 3 – 7 of This Title
Equine and Large Animals	Equine and Large Animals	Equine and Large Animals
Large animals, including horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, hogs, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other similar hooved animals	Max. 3 for every 20,000 square feet of lot area; provided, that said animals are primarily raised and kept for the private use of members of the family residing on the premises. Up to 25 percent of the total allowed number of animals on a parcel may be boarded for persons who do not reside on the property.	Max. 3 for every 20,000 square feet of lot area; provided, that said animals are primarily raised and kept for the private use of members of the family residing on the premises. Up to 25 percent of the total allowed number of animals on a parcel may be boarded for persons who do not reside on the property.
Small Animals and Poultry	Small Animals and Poultry	Small Animals and Poultry
Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs	Max. 1 per dwelling unit	Max. 1 per dwelling unit
Poultry and fowl, excluding roosters and peafowl	Max. 3 such birds in any combination for every 10,000 square feet of lot area.	Max. 3 such birds in any combination for every 10,000 square feet of lot area.
Domesticated Animals 2	Domesticated Animals 2	Domesticated Animals 2
	ER, LDR, SFR 1, SFR 2, and SFR 3 Zones 1	All Other Residential and Mixed‑Use Zones
Cats	5	2
Dogs	4	2
Bees	Bees	Bees
Beehives	Max. 1 hive for every 4,000 square feet of lot area	Max. 1 hive for every 4,000 square feet of lot area

Notes:
1. Properties within the RN 1 zone with a lot size of 7,000 sf or greater may have an allowable number of dogs and cats consistent with the ER/LDR/SFR 1/SFR 2/SFR 3 standards.
2. Refers to number of adult animals.

(2) Refer to Division 3 (Residential Zones) for zones where "kennels, private/hobby" are allowed. Allowed number of animals shall be in compliance with this Chapter.

(3) Any request for the keeping of additional animals shall be in compliance with PMC § 17.26.070 (Additional animals clearance).

(4) The keeping of exotic animals, as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions), shall be prohibited.

(1) Tackrooms and feed storage facilities shall not be located in a front yard setback and shall be located no closer than 10 feet to any side or rear lot line.

(2) Animal enclosures shall not be located in a required front yard setback and shall not be located closer than 50 feet from any residential structure. In addition, barns, doghouses, hutches, coops, aviaries and other similar buildings or structures shall not be located within 20 feet of any side or rear lot line.

(D) Standards for Bee Keeping. The following standards provide for the safe and orderly keeping of bees:

(1) Location. Beehives shall only be located in rear yards and shall be placed a minimum of 20 feet from any property line, except that in the ER and LDR zones beehives also may be placed in the interior side yards. In all zones, the entrance to the beehive shall face away from the property line closest to the hive.

(2) Barriers. A flyway barrier shall be established and maintained so that all bees are forced to fly at an elevation of at least six feet above ground level in the vicinity of the beehive. Any fence, wall, or natural barrier proposed as a flyway barrier shall comply with the provisions of PMC § 17.86.040 (Walls and fences), as well as the following:

(a) Be a minimum of six feet tall;

(b) Be solid such that bees cannot fly through it;

(d) Extend a minimum of five feet beyond the beehive(s) in each direction.

(3) A convenient source of water shall be made available for the bees at all times of the year so that bees are less likely to congregate at swimming pools, pet watering bowls, bird baths, or other water sources.

(4) In any instance in which a bee colony exhibits unusually defensive characteristics by stinging or attempting to sting without provocation or exhibits an unusual disposition toward swarming, beekeepers shall promptly re-queen the colony with another marked queen. Queens shall be selected with a gentle disposition from stock bred for gentleness and nonswarming characteristics. An owner/keeper of a beehive must be able to produce proof of a receipt from a queen breeder.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)

Exceptions & meaning →