Placer County Municipal Code Art. 6.12 Dog and Kennel Licenses

The canine licenses required by this chapter shall be issued upon the payment of the fees commencing upon the date of application and upon the showing of a valid certificate of rabies vaccination. Such canine licenses shall expire on the anniversary date of the rabies certificate, but in no case shall a canine license be valid past the expiration date of the rabies certificate.

A. Every canine over four months of age shall be subject to an annual license fee in the amount set forth in Section 2.116.110.

B. Any person failing to procure a license prior to the expiration date of a previously issued license shall pay the amount set forth in Section 2.116.110 as a penalty for such failure.

C. Any person failing to procure a license within 30 days after the canine becomes four months of age shall pay the amount as set forth in Section 2.116.110 as a penalty for such failure.

D. Any person failing to procure a license within 30 days of bringing such canine into the county shall pay the amount as set forth in Section 2.116.110 as a penalty for such failure.

E. The director of animal services shall assure that serial numbered license tags stamped with the name of the county are procured and issued. Such tags shall only be issued upon the application of owners who have complied with the vaccination and fee provisions of this chapter, and such license tag will be permanently issued for each animal and shall remain with that animal.

F. Every dog shall be provided by the owner with a suitable collar or other device to which a license tag shall be attached.

G. A fee shall not be levied for any license issued for a service dog owned by a person with a demonstrated need for assistance as determined by written order of a licensed physician, a dog used by any law enforcement personnel, or any dog owned by a senior citizen over the age of 65 with a current rabies vaccination who has previously received a free license and is seeking a renewal under this section, with a current rabies vaccination.

H. In the event a license tag is lost from the body of any dog for which the same was issued, the owner shall, within 10 days thereafter, procure another and new license for such dog, for which he or she shall pay a fee as set forth in Section 2.116.110. As often as any license is lost, the same shall be replaced in the same manner as hereinabove provided, within the same license year.

I. The director of animal services may authorize veterinarians to sell dog licenses pursuant to this chapter. Such veterinarians shall be reimbursed the amount as set forth in Section 2.116.110 for each license sold.

J. At the request of an owner and upon showing of a valid certificate of rabies vaccination, a license for a cat may be issued and an annual fee in an amount as set forth in Section 2.116.110 shall be charged and collected.

(Prior code § 3.110; Ord. 5653-B § 13, 2011; Ord. 5741-B § 8, 2014)

At least 30 days prior to the expiration date of an animal license, the director of animal services shall assure that a renewal notice has been mailed to the owner of the dog or cat. Upon the expiration of a kennel license and prior to the renewal of the license, the director of animal services shall schedule a kennel inspection.

(Prior code § 3.112; Ord. 5653-B § 14, 2011)

Canines kept in or at a kennel shall be subject to all the regulations and controls herein pertaining to non-kennel canines; except for the individual canine license requirement.

(Prior code § 3.114)

A.

1. No person shall own a kennel without first applying to and receiving from the director of animal services a kennel license to do so, if the zoning is proper.

2. The application for a kennel license shall contain the name of the applicant, address, the address of the proposed location of the kennel if different from the applicant's, a brief description of the housing facilities and the number and description of the canines to be kept therein.

3. The fee for the issuance of a kennel license shall be due and payable by the owner upon approval of authorized county departments and each 12 months thereafter according to the fees set forth in Section 2.116.110. Following payment of the license, an inspection of the kennel facility shall be conducted by authorized animal services staff.

4. Any person failing to procure and pay for a kennel license renewal prior to the expiration date of the previous license shall reinstate the license or lose the kennel license and be subject to individual licensing requirements.

B.

1. The director of animal services shall procure and issue serial numbered license tag stamped with the name of the county. Such tags shall only be issued in the following numbers upon the application of kennel owners who have complied with the vaccination and fee provisions of this chapter.

2. Annually two tags for kennels with five to 10 canines; four tags for kennel with 11 to 15 canines; six tags for kennels with 16 or more canines.

3. Any canine which is removed from the physical confines of a kennel shall have a license tag attached to its collar at all times; additional tags can be obtained for the amount as set forth in Section 2.116.110.

C.

1. Upon receipt of an application for a kennel license by the director of animal services, the application shall be forwarded to the environmental health division of the department of health and human services of the county, the planning department of the county, and designated employees of these departments shall ascertain whether or not the applicant's plan is in conformity with county law governing their respective department.

2. If the applicant's kennel is in conformity with the law governing said departments, departmental approval shall be indicated on the face of the application. If the applicant's kennel is not in conformity with the law governing said departments, the face of the application shall be marked "NOT APPROVED" and the reason for non-approval noted thereon, along with any revisions or changes in the applicant's kennel which, if made, would result in approval by the department in question.

3. Upon approval by said departments of an application for a license, the director of animal services shall make any inspection he deems proper. The director shall approve an application if he or she finds all of the following:

a. Keeping the kennel at the location specified in the application will not violate any law or ordinance of this county or any law of the state of California;

b. Keeping and maintenance of the kennel will not endanger the peace, health, or safety of persons in the immediate vicinity, or in the county as a whole;

c. Premises and housing where the kennel is to be maintained are in a clean and sanitary condition, and any canine kept therein will not be subject to suffering, cruelty or abuse;

d. The applicant has not had a provided for herein revoked within one year prior to the date of application;

e. Keeping and maintenance of the kennel does not constitute a public nuisance.

D. Any kennel license issued pursuant to this article may be revoked or suspended as herein provided if, after investigation, the director of animal services finds any of the following to be true:

1. The owner, agent or employee has been convicted of any offense involving the violation of Section 597 of the Penal Code of the state of California, or any provision of this chapter, or is in violation of the zoning, health and safety or building ordinances relating to the keeping of animals; or

2. The owner has failed to keep and maintain the premises or housing for the kennel in a clean and sanitary condition; or

3. The owner has at the place for which the kennel license is issued, failed to provide any animal with proper food, water, shelter, or attention; or

4. The owner has violated any rules, regulations, or conditions adopted by the director of animal services as necessary to insure that the kennel will not endanger the safety of any person or property.

(Prior code § 3.116; Ord. 5653-B § 15, 2011; Ord. 5741-B § 9, 2014)