Rosemead Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 Animals Generally

A. Except as provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep on any lot within the city, the following:

(1) Swine, hogs or pigs (except Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs);

(2) Dangerous or poisonous reptiles;

(3) Wild animals;

(4) Bees;

(5) Roosters over three months old.

B. The Planning Commission may grant a conditional use permit for keeping of such animals or reptiles subject to the following conditions:

(1) The animals or retiles are maintained within an educational institution as defined by California Education Code;

(2) The animals or reptiles are used exclusively for scientific or medical research;

(3) The animals or reptiles are part of a commercial venture operated in a commercial zone, or less restrictive zone.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person shall:

A. Sell, offer for sale, barter, or give away as pets, toys, premiums or novelties, any baby chickens, ducklings, or other fowl under three weeks of age, or rabbits under two months of age; or

B. Color, dye, stain or otherwise change the natural color of the above-described fowl or rabbits; or

C. Bring or transport the above-described fowl or rabbits into the city.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

Section 6.04.020 does not prohibit the sale of commercial lots or display in property facilities of any of the fowls or rabbits described herein, by breeders or stores engaged in the business of selling for commercial breeding or raising, or for food or their exhibition at any fair, show or exhibit where such fowls or animals are displayed for commercial purposes and in the interest of improving agriculture of industry, or their sale for raising as a part of a training or educational program under conditions and standards established or approved by a 4-H Club, Future Farmers of America, accredited educational institutes or similar organizations or institutions.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

A. No person owning or having control of any monkey, ape, chimpanzee, or other animal of the monkey type, shall permit, allow or suffer such animal to run at large within the City or permit, allow or suffer such animal to be or go upon any street or public place within the City without having such animal securely fastened by an adequate chain or rope, firmly held by or attached to a competent person.

B. Such animal shall be deemed and considered as running at large, within the meaning of the expression as herein used, when not confined within an enclosure or when not securely tied or chained.

C. Horses may be kept on those premises where permitted by the zoning ordinance.

D. Chickens and ducks may only be kept in the area where permitted by the zoning ordinance. The keeping of chickens and ducks shall be subject to the following additional provisions:

(1) They shall be kept a minimum of ten feet from the side and rear property lines.

(2) They shall not be kept in the front yard setback.

(3) They shall be kept a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from any building used for human habitation of the lot.

(4) They shall be kept a minimum of fifty (50) feet from any building used for human habitation on an adjacent lot.

(5) There shall be a chain-link fence, or an approved equal, a minimum of four feet in height, surrounding the area keeping the chickens and/or ducks. A closeable, lockable gate shall be provided.

(6) Running, potable water shall be provided to the area keeping the chickens and/or ducks.

(7) All applicable regulations and ordinances of the City and of the Los Angeles County Health Department shall be fully adhered to.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person shall keep or maintain, or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained upon premises owned or controlled by him or it, in the City, a hive of bees. This section shall not apply to the keeping of bees within an educational institution for study or observation, or within a physician's office or laboratory for medical research, treatment, or other scientific purposes, provided they are not permitted to fly at large.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person owning or having control of any ox, steel, bull, cow, horse, colt, calf, sheep, goat or any other animal commonly referred to as a "wild species" shall:

A. Permit such animal to run at large in the city;

B. Cause or permit any such animal to be pastured, herded, staked to tied in any street, lane, alley, park or other public place;

C. Tie, stake, pasture, or permit the tying, staking, or pasturing of any such animal upon any private property within the limits of the City, without the consent of the owner or occupant of such property, or in such a way as to permit any such animal to trespass upon any street or public place, or upon any such private property;

D. Permit any said animals to be or remain during the nighttime secured by a stake, or secured in any manner other than by enclosing such animal in a pen, corral or barn sufficient and adequate to restrain such animal, or by securely fastening such animal by means of a rope or chain of sufficient size, strength and weight to effectively restrain such animal;

E. Fail to provide the necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or protection from the weather, or otherwise.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

It is declared to be a nuisance and no person shall suffer or permit any rabbits and/or permitted birds and/or fowl owned or controlled by him or it, to run or fly at large or go upon the premises of any other person in the City. Fowl and rabbits may only be kept in the zone permitted in the zoning code of the City. The keeping of fowls and rabbits is subject to the development standards as stipulated in the zoning code.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal or reptile known by such person to be vicious or dangerous, or commonly so known, or owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, wolf, monkey, ape, chimpanzee, bobcat, lynx, wildcat, puma, cheetah, or any animal commonly referred to as a "wild species," or any poisonous reptile, shall permit or allow the same to be at large upon any highway, street, land, alley, court or other public place, or upon any private property other than within the enclosed premises of such person. If the owner or harborer fails to provide adequate restraint or control of said animal as ordered by the Animal Control Officer, or his authorized deputy, within a reasonable time, said animal shall then be subject to summary destruction.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

Every person owning or occupying premises where any animal, dog, cat, fowl or bird is kept shall keep the stable, barn, stall, pen, coop, building or place in which said animal is kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No owner or person having charge, custody or control of any animal shall permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such animal to defecate and to allow such feces thereafter to remain on any public sidewalk or park or any other public property, or on any improved private property other than that of the owner or person who has custody or control of such animal.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

Every person owning or occupying premises where manure from any animal accumulates shall provide for the removal of such manure daily. Unless all manure accumulated on any premises is removed daily, boxes, bins or receptacles of a design and construction acceptable to the Animal Control Officer of the City or the Animal Control Officer shall be provided by the owner or occupant of such premises, and such boxes, bins or receptacles shall be used only for the purpose of containing the accumulation of manure, which shall be placed therein or removed therefrom, and in no instance shall manure be placed in such boxes or receptacles in such manner as to prevent the tight closing of the lid; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall apply to manure which is spread as fertilizer over or around cultivated plants, vines, vegetables, lawns, bushes or trees, or to manure kept by any nursery for commercial fertilizer purposes, unless such manure creates a nuisance either from fly breeding or excessive obnoxious odors. Said boxes, bins or receptacles shall be constructed of brick, stone, concrete, metal, or wood lined with metal or other sound material, and shall be proof against access to the contents thereof by flies. The contents of said boxes, bins or receptacles shall be removed once a week.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person who is ordered by the Animal Control Officer of the City or Animal Control Officer to clean or disinfect any stable, barn, corral, stall, pen, coop, building, or place in which any animal is kept, or who is ordered by such officer to clean or disinfect any box, bin or receptacle used for the accumulation of manure shall fail, neglect, or refuse to clean and disinfect such stable, barn, corral, stall, pen, coop, building, place, box, bin or receptacle.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person shall, within the City, willfully slaughter or cause to be slaughtered any animal. This section shall not apply to the slaughter of such animals within an educational institution, physician's office, or laboratory for medical research or other scientific purposes, to the slaughter of such animals by a person licensed by the State of California to practice veterinary medicine, or by a commercial establishment duly entitled by the City and otherwise licensed by the appropriate State or Federal agency as a slaughterhouse.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person shall transport any animal on the running board of any motor vehicle or outside the passenger compartment, tonneau or body thereof, unless such animal is protected by a framework or other device which will prevent such animal from falling out, jumping or being thrown from such motor vehicle, whether in motion or not.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

It is declared to be a nuisance, and no person shall keep, maintain, or permit upon any lot or parcel of land within the City under his control, any animal or animals, which by any sound or cry emit noise in violation of section 8.36.060 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person shall keep any animal which is known or believed by him to be infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is afflicted with any painful disease believed by him to be incurable, without a permit to do so from the Animal Control Officer of the City.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

No person shall set or use any spring steel trap, No. 1 or larger, in the City. This section shall not, however, prohibit the use of rodent traps.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to take up, impound and safely keep any of the animals enumerated in this chapter found running at large, staked, tied or being herded or pastured in any street, lane, alley, court, square, park, or other place belonging to or under the control of the City, or upon any private property in the City, contrary to the provisions of this chapter. The following shall be captured and taken into custody:

A. All unlicensed dogs;

B. Any other animal, wild or domestic, which is by this title required to be licensed, but which is unlicensed;

C. Any animal being kept or maintained contrary to the provisions of this title, the Animal Control Ordinance, or any other ordinance or State statute.

D. Dogs and other animals running at large contrary to the provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code or any other State statute or of this title;

E. Sick, injured, stray, unwanted or abandoned animals;

F. Dogs which are unvaccinated in violation of this title;

G. Animals delivered by the owners to the Director, all title and interest in which is abandoned by such owners;

H. Animals for which the owner or custodian is unable to care because of imprisonment, illness, bankruptcy, litigation or other contingency, or in cases in which the owner or custodian cannot be found.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

There shall be provided by the City a suitable building or enclosure to keep and safely hold all animals herein enumerated which are subject to be impounded, which shall be known and designated as the "animal shelter" or "animal holding facility."

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

When any animal is impounded, it shall be provided, during impoundment, with proper and sufficient food and water, by the Animal Control Officer or the impounding agency designated by the City.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

The owner of any animal impounded shall have the right to reclaim the same, at any time prior to the sale or destruction thereof, upon payment to the City or the impounding agency of the costs and charges provided in this chapter for impounding and keeping said animals, and the obtaining of a license for unlicensed animals.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

The City or impounding agency shall charge a fee established by resolution of the City Council for the impounding of animals.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer or the impounding agency to order the destruction of any animal lawfully taken into custody which, in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer or the impounding agency, is infected with a dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable crippled condition, or which is adjudged by a written report of a licensed veterinarian to be afflicted with any painful, incurable disease.

(Ord. No. 884, § 1, 11-17-09)

Household pets and/or miscellaneous animals (as listed under RMC Section 6.04.040) may not exceed eight animals total per dwelling unit.

(Ord. No. 970, § 2, 1-10-17)