Chapter 6.40 — WILD OR VICIOUS ANIMALS

No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal, reptile or serpent described in Section 6.20.060(A), shall allow such animal, reptile or serpent within the enclosed premises of such person unless and until he or she 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 § 5-12)

Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall have, keep, maintain or have in his or her possession or under his or her control within the City any animal or reptile described in Section 6.20.060(A) without first applying to and receiving a permit from the Director to do so.

• A. Application for Permit. 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. Said application shall be verified by the person who desires to have, keep, maintain or have in his or her possession, or under his or her control, in the City, the animal or reptile for which a permit is required, and shall set forth the following:

  1. Name, address and telephone number of the applicant.

  2. The applicant's interest in such animal or reptile.

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

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

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

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

  7. Safety precautions to be taken.

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

  9. Prior history of incidents involving the public health and safety involving any of said animals or reptiles.

  10. Any additional information required by the Director at the time of filing of such application or thereafter.

• B. Permit for Fee. The fee for a permit application for wild or dangerous animals shall be established by the Director. Said fee shall be payable to the Director at the time of filing the permit application. Accretions by natural birth shall not require additional permits

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City of Paramount, CA § 6.40.020

ANIMAL CONTROL

§ 6.40.020

during the period of a valid permit. Said fees are not refundable regardless of whether or not any permit is issued.

• C. Review of Application for Permit. 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/Administrator for good cause.

• D. Appeal of Permit Application Denied.

  1. Any person dissatisfied with the ruling of the Director may, within 10 days thereafter, appeal from said decision to the City Council; such appeal shall be a simple statement in writing setting forth in common terms the basis of said appeal.

2. 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.

• E. Permit Denied—Endangering the Public. 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.

• F. Temporary Permits. 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 or she shall, in his or her sole discretion, require when, in his or her 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 otherwise be 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.

• G. Result of Failure to Obtain Permit. The Director shall take possession of any animal or reptile described under Section 6.20.060(A) 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.

• H. Term and Renewal of Permits. 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 45 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.

• I. Revocation of Permits. The Director may, for good cause, revoke any permit or modify any terms or provisions thereof, except which permits which have been approved by the Planning Commission or City Council, after informal public hearing, and may, in the event

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City of Paramount, CA § 6.40.020

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 6.40.020

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 30 days.

• J. Appeal of Permit Revocation. 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.

• K. Exemption for Transportation of Animals Through City. The permit requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any person so keeping or maintaining or having in his or her possession or control any animal or reptile defined in Section 6.20.060(A) when such person is transporting such animal or reptile through the City, has taken adequate safeguards to protect the public, and has notified local law enforcement agency of the proposed route of transportation and time thereof.

• L. Exempt from Permit Requirement. The provisions 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 §§ 5-12.1—5-12.13)

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City of Paramount, CA § 6.44.010

ANIMAL CONTROL

§ 6.44.020