Rolling Hills Municipal Code Ch. 6.36 Keeping Wild or Exotic Species

No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal, bird of prey, reptile or serpent known by such person to be vicious or dangerous, or commonly so known, or owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal commonly referred to as a "wild species," or any bird of prey or poisonous reptile or serpent, shall permit or allow the same to be at large upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court or other public place or upon any private property other than within the enclosed premises of such person.

(Ord. 136 § 901, 1976).

Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall have, keep or maintain or have in his possession or under his control within the City any animal, bird, reptile or serpent described in Section 6.36.010 without first applying to and receiving a permit from the City or an authorized representative to do so.

(Ord. 136 § 903, 1976).

No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal, bird of prey, reptile or serpent described in Section 6.36.010 shall allow such animal, bird, reptile or serpent within the enclosed premises of such person unless and until he has first secured an annual permit from the City to do so and complies with all terms and conditions of such permit, and, in addition thereto, such animal, bird, 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 shall such premises shall not be endangered. The City Manager shall have reasonable discretion to revoke the permit if, in the City Manager's opinion, the life, limb or property of another is endangered.

(Ord. 136 § 902, 1976).

No permit shall be granted except with such conditions attached as shall, in the opinion of the person or agency approving such permit, reasonably insure 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.

(Ord. 136 § 905, 1976).

The City Manager 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, reptile or serpent, upon such conditions as the City Manager shall, in the City Manager's discretion, require when, in the City Manager's opinion, there is no reasonable doubt as to the consistency thereof with the public health, safety and general welfare, but no animal, reptile or serpent shall be otherwise 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.

(Ord. 136 § 906, 1976).

A. Any person who is a party to a proceeding described in Sections 6.36.020 and 6.36.030 who is dissatisfied with the decision of the City Manager shall have the right to appeal to the City Council. The appeal shall be filed in writing with the City Clerk within ten days after the date of the decision of the City Manager. Thereafter, the City Clerk shall, within ten days after the date of filing the appeal, set the appeal for hearing as a separate agenda item on the next regular meeting of the City Council. While the appeal is pending, the decision of the City Manager shall remain in effect and the appealing party shall comply with all the provisions thereof. The failure of the appealing party to comply with the decision of the City Manager shall be grounds for dismissal of the appeal.

B. At the time of the hearing on the appeal, the City Council shall review and consider all evidentiary matters relating to the decision of the City Manager and, within ten days, shall make one of the following decisions:

1. Uphold the decision of the City Manager;

2. Reverse the decision of the City Manager;

3. Dismiss the appeal.

C. An appeal fee shall be paid as set forth in Chapter 6.56. No appeal shall be considered by the City Council until such fee has been paid.

(Ord. 205 § 3, 1983; Ord. 136 § 904, 1976).

The Director of Animal Control, or his authorized deputy, shall take possession of any animal, bird, reptile or serpent for which a permit has not been issued and shall keep the same for a period of ten days, or until a permit has been secured by the owner, whichever event occurs first. The cost of keeping such animal, bird, reptile or serpent while in the control of the Director shall be paid for by the owner thereof.

(Ord. 136 § 907, 1976).