Tuolumne County Municipal Code Art. 4 Chapter 17.42

ANIMAL KEEPING Sections:

• 17.42.010 Purpose.
• 17.42.020 Applicability.
• 17.42.030 Permit Required.
• 17.42.040 Development and Operational Standards.

Chapter is to establish standards for the location, site planning, development, and operations of certain land uses that are allowed by Article 2, Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses, within individual or multiple districts, and for activities that require special standards to minimize the impacts of these uses and activities on surrounding properties and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their occupants and of the general public.

contained in this Chapter shall apply to all animal keeping uses. Minimum standards for any type of animal or fowl not addressed or not similar to those listed in this Chapter as determined by the Community Development Director shall be established by the Planning Commission. Household pets such as domestic dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, or other small animals ordinarily permitted inside of a dwelling and kept only for the company and pleasure provided to the occupants shall be permitted and not subject to the animal keeping development and operational standards below. Household pets shall not include horses, cows, goats, sheep or other equine, bovine, ovine or ruminant animals, pigs, chickens, ducks, pigeons, geese, turkeys, game birds or fowl which normally constitute an agricultural use.

keeping uses shall be subject to approval of the specified permit as detailed in the use tables in Article 2.

Standards. A. General Standards. All animal keeping in all districts outside of the Agricultural Districts shall meet the following requirements:
1. Animals shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and shall not pose a threat to public health. 2. Animals shall not cause fouling of the air off the parcel by unpleasant odor. 3. Animals shall not create a nuisance to residents of adjacent parcels. 4. Feed shall be stored in rodent- proof containers. B. Standards for keeping poultry in the R- 1 District. Poultry may be kept in any R-1 district as an accessory use to a dwelling located on the parcel where the poultry is kept, subject to the following standards: 1. Poultry shall be kept in fully enclosed coops or cages having a roof so the poultry cannot leave the enclosure. 2. Coops and cages shall not be located within required building setbacks. 3. Slaughtering of poultry shall occur indoors only. 4. Roosters and tom turkeys are prohibited.

The maximum allowable poultry per parcel shall be as follows: a. Less than 0.5 net acre parcel = 4 birds b. 0.5 but less than 1.0 net acre parcel = 8 birds c. 1.0 net acre parcel or larger = 12 birds. d. Chicks in excess of these limits shall be removed from the parcel within 21 days following hatching. 6. No turkeys may be kept on any parcel that is less than 1.0 net acre in area. C. Standards for keeping bees. 1. Number of Hives. In all districts except the Agricultural Districts and Residential Estate Districts, maximum of two hives per parcel unless otherwise approved with a Minor Use Permit. No limit in the Agriculture District. 2. Hive Placement Requirements. a. Hives shall be located at least five feet from all property lines. b. Hive entrances shall face away from or parallel to the nearest property line(s). c. Hives must either be screened so that the bees must fly over a six-foot barrier, which may be vegetative, before leaving the property, or be placed at least eight feet above the adjacent ground level. 3. Hive Management Requirements. a. Hives shall be continually managed to provide adequate living space for their resident bees to prevent swarming. b. Hives shall be requeened at least once every two years to prevent swarming. c. A water source for bees shall be provided at all times on the property where the bees are kept in order to discourage bee visitation at swimming pools, hose bibs, and other water sources on adjacent public or private property. d. Hive maintenance materials or equipment must be stored in a sealed container or placed within a building or other bee-proof enclosure. 4. Bees or hives shall be considered a public nuisance and subject to Chapter 17.104, Administration and Enforcement, when any of the following occurs: a. Colonies of bees exhibit defensive or objectionable behavior or interfere with the normal use of neighboring properties. b. Colonies of bees swarm. c. Bees or hives do not conform to this Code. d. Hives become abandoned by resident bees or by the owner. D. Standards for the keeping of livestock in the R-1 District. The keeping of livestock is limited to lots/parcels one acre or larger in size in the Single-Family Residential (R-1) District.

Livestock Density in the R-1 District. The maximum allowed livestock density in the R-1 District is two cattle or horses or four sheep or goats per acre. Where there is a combination of cattle or horses and sheep or goats, one bovine animal or horse is the equivalent of two sheep or goats. 2. Exception. Livestock may be kept for temporary education projects such as FFA, 4-H, and school projects, on a lot that does not otherwise permit the keeping of livestock.