Santa Cruz Municipal Code Part 7 Animals

Specific regulations relating to the care and keeping of animals set forth herein are intended to provide for the compatibility between such animals and neighboring land uses.

(Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

It is unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal except cats, to cause, permit, or allow the animal to stray, run, or in any other manner to be at large in or upon any public street, sidewalk, park or schoolground, or upon any unenclosed lot or land.

(Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

In any R-District, or in conjunction with any residential uses in any other district, there may be kept on any lot a total of not more than six domestic animals as defined in this title, not more than three of which may be dogs, and not more than one of which may be an unspayed female dog. See Section 24.12.630, Family farm animals.

1. Such animals, except cats, shall under no circumstances be permitted to run at large, but shall be at all times confined within a suitable enclosure (coop or yard) or otherwise be under the control of the owner on the property. Supervision of dogs is covered under Chapter 8.14 of the Municipal Code.

2. Such enclosure shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition so as to be at all times free from offensive odors or other nuisance features.

3. No part of any enclosure shall be located less than twenty-five feet from any dwelling, other than the owner’s, or place of business.

(Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

In any R-District, or in conjunction with any residential uses in any other district, there may be kept on any lot of at least twenty thousand square feet in area, two large family farm animals and ten small family farm animals.

1. Such animals shall be specifically for use by the family on the site and not be for sale, except in the case of an approved young farmer project.

2. Such animals and poultry shall under no circumstances be permitted to run at large, but shall be confined at all times within a suitable enclosure.

3. Such enclosure shall at all times be maintained in clean and sanitary condition so as to be at all times free from offensive odor or other nuisance features.

4. No part of any enclosure shall be located less than forty feet from any neighbor’s dwelling, and twenty feet from owner’s property line.

5. Only small animals may be butchered on property.

6. Domestic farm animals (those defined as domestic animals in Section 24.22.050) shall be counted as part of the total number of domestic animals permitted on any one property.

7. Where one or more large farm animals or seven or more small farm animals are to be maintained, an administrative use permit shall be required for all family farms. The following shall be considered in the approval of such permits:

a. The slope of the land and its bearing on the problems associated with runoff shall be taken into consideration with surface of all corrals and animal areas to be graded so as to prevent the accumulation of storm or casual waters;

b. The applicant’s proposed plan for the removal of animal manure from the site and for screening of that portion of the property where animals are to be kept;

c. Proposed measures for prevention of adverse impacts, such as noise, on adjacent properties or the neighborhood caused by the keeping of such animals.

(Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

In any R-District, there may be kept one horse, pony, donkey or mule for each twenty thousand square feet of land area, subject to the following provisions:

1. The minimum contiguous land area shall be forty thousand square feet, of which twenty thousand square feet shall be open space. Contiguous parcels which are leased pursuant to a written or oral rental agreement may not be considered as part of the minimum lot area requirements hereof.

2. The fenced paddock and corral area and structures for the housing of such animals shall be at least twenty feet from the property line; stables and housing of such animals shall be at least forty feet from property lines; and stables and corrals a minimum of one hundred feet from neighbor’s dwelling. Except that, upon written consent of adjacent property owner and tenant, where applicable, the setback requirements may be reduced. In no case, however, shall paddocks, corral areas, stables or animal housing be less than fifty feet from habitable structures on adjacent properties.

3. Such animals shall be maintained in a fenced paddock or corral area containing at least eight hundred square feet of fenced area per animal. All of said minimum fenced paddock or corral area shall be permanently accessible to such animals. Such animals shall be cared for and kept in a manner which preserves the health and safety of the animals and which complies with Chapter 8.18 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code;

a. If fenced paddock area is not provided for such animals, each twenty thousand square feet of land area per animal shall be fenced.

4. The land area shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition so as to be free from offensive odors or other nuisance features.

5. The fly-control regulations and other restrictions of the environmental health department shall be complied with.

6. A foal of such animal which is lawfully kept on such contiguous land area and which is under the age of one year shall not be counted in determining the number of such animals being kept on the land.

7. An administrative use permit shall be required for all horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The following shall be considered in the approval of such permits:

a. The slopes of the land and its bearing on the problems associated with runoff shall be taken in consideration, with surface of all corrals and animal areas to be graded so as to prevent the accumulation of storm or casual waters;

b. The applicant’s proposed plan for the removal of animal manure from the site and for screening of that portion of the property where animals are to be kept;

c. Proposed measures for prevention of adverse impacts such as noise on adjacent properties or the neighborhood caused by the keeping of such animal.

(Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).

1. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage the environmentally beneficial practice of beekeeping in Santa Cruz by ensuring the use of best practices, with a focus on the safety of neighbors, beekeepers and honeybees. This section includes guidance to minimize conflicts between neighbors and the general public while supporting healthy bee colonies.

2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

“Apiary” shall mean any single or group of hives placed together on a property.

“Hive” shall mean the box or boxes in which honeybees are kept and from which honey and honeycomb are collected.

“Responsible beekeeper” shall mean the person or entity responsible for the placement, maintenance and safety of any individual hive or apiary.

3. Standards. In accordance with Section 29000 of the California State Food and Agricultural Code, which states, “A healthy and vibrant apiary industry is important to the economy and welfare of the people of the State of California. Protection and promotion of this important industry is in the interest of the people of the State of California.” Santa Cruz city maintains the lawful keeping of honeybees according to the following standards:

a. The installation and maintenance of apiaries does not require a permit or registration with the city.

b. Apiaries shall be accompanied by a constant, permanent source of water on site with hives. This can be a natural body of water or an artificial water source provided by the responsible beekeeper.

c. Before hives are placed on lots with nonresidential uses, including hives on public land, the responsible beekeeper shall first obtain written consent from the property owner and shall provide written notice to all property owners and tenants within a fifty-foot radius of the hive(s). The notice must include but is not limited to the specific location of the hive(s); the name, telephone, and email contact information for the beekeeper; the name, telephone, and email contact information of the property owner where the hive(s) will be located; and the date on which permission from the property owner is intended to be granted. The notification must be provided to neighbors at least ten days prior to owner permission being granted to the beekeeper. The responsible beekeeper must also clearly stencil their name and phone number on the box’s exterior.

d. Before hives can be placed on multifamily residential-use lots, the responsible beekeeper shall first obtain written consent from the property owner and the homeowner’s association, where one exists, and shall provide written notice to all current residents and owners on the lot or within the residential development that are within a one hundred fifty-foot radius of the hive placement site. The notice must include but is not limited to the specific location of the hive(s); the name, telephone, and email contact information for the beekeeper; the name, telephone, and email contact information of the property owner or homeowner’s association where the hive(s) will be located; and the date on which permission from the property owner or homeowner’s association is intended to be granted. The notification must be provided to neighbors at least ten days prior to owner permission being granted to the beekeeper. The responsible beekeeper must also clearly stencil their name and phone number on the box’s exterior.

e. Within community housing projects or similar developments such as townhouses, hives shall not be placed within ten feet of any private balcony, private yards, or common open space except for those spaces exclusively owned or leased by the responsible beekeeper.

f. Where a hive is located adjacent to a pedestrian right-of-way, including a sidewalk, public trail, or street where no sidewalk has been constructed, hives shall be either:

i. Set back a minimum of ten feet from the pedestrian right-of-way; or

ii. Placed behind a barrier at least six feet in height consisting of a nonpenetrable structure not limited to a fence, wall, building or dense vegetation. Fences, walls, and vegetation used to meet this standard shall also comply with Section 24.12.160, and accessory buildings used to meet this standard shall comply with Section 24.12.140.

g. All apiaries shall be maintained and placed in a manner that encourages bees to disperse, rather than concentrate, before potentially encountering neighbors or other members of the public. This requirement may be achieved by any of the following strategies:

i. Positioning hive entrances in such a way that bees are encouraged to fly across the property on which they are kept, orienting the entrances to face the interior of the property.

ii. Placing hive boxes at least ten feet from property lines.

iii. Placing hives behind a barrier at least six feet in height consisting of a nonpenetrable structure not limited to a fence, wall, building or dense vegetation. Fences, walls, and vegetation used to meet this standard shall also comply with Section 24.12.160, and accessory buildings used to meet this standard shall comply with Section 24.12.140.

iv. Placing hives in an elevated position, a minimum of eight feet off the ground.

(Ord. 2020-24 § 1, 2020: Ord. 85-05 § 1 (part), 1985).