Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Delano?

Delano's code: Only with a conditional use permit; hives at least 400 feet from streets, public schools, parks, and other people's homes. (Applies to noncommercial beekeeping.) (§ 20.11.40); At least 10 feet from a home on the same lot. (R-A zone; applies to stalls, pens, coops and other animal shelters, not property line fences.) (§ 20.11.40).

Pets, chickens and bees in Delano: the local rules

Delano code What Delano's code adds
Bees	Only with a conditional use permit; hives at least 400 feet from streets, public schools, parks, and other people's homes. Applies: Applies to noncommercial beekeeping. § 20.11.40 · code text Noncommercial apiary (beekeeping) provided that hives and/or boxes shall be placed a minimum of four hundred feet from any street, road, highw
Coop setback	At least 10 feet from a home on the same lot. Applies: R-A zone; applies to stalls, pens, coops and other animal shelters, not property line fences. § 20.11.40 · code text Ten feet from a residential building on the same lot; At least 30 feet from homes or other living quarters on other lots. Applies: R-A zone; applies to stalls, pens, coops and other animal shelters, not property line fences. § 20.11.40 · code text thirty feet from off-site residential structures or other structures used for human habitation; At least 100 feet from the front lot line. Applies: R-A zone; applies to stalls, pens, coops and other animal shelters, not property line fences. § 20.11.40 · code text one hundred feet from the front lot line; At least 25 feet from the street side lot line on a corner lot. Applies: R-A zone; applies to stalls, pens, coops and other animal shelters, not property line fences. § 20.11.40 · code text twenty-five feet from a street side lot line on a corner lot; At least 75 feet from a public park, school, hospital or similar institution. Applies: R-A zone; applies to stalls, pens, coops and other animal shelters, not property line fences. § 20.11.40 · code text and seventy-five feet from a public park, school, hospital, or similar institution.
Large animals	1 horse or pony on lots of at least 1 acre, plus 1 per extra 1/2 acre; 6 maximum. Applies: Applies to noncommercial keeping in the R-A zone. § 20.11.40 · code text One horse or pony may be kept on any lot with an area no less than one acre. One additional horse or pony, or combination thereof, may be kept for each additional one-half acre on the same lot up to a maximum of six such animals. None on lots under 1/2 acre; 2 adult goats or sheep per extra 1/4 acre, up to 8 total. Applies: Applies to noncommercial keeping of goats, sheep and other small cleft-hoof animals in the R-A zone. § 20.11.40 · code text Two adult goats, sheep or other small sized cleft hoof animals may be kept for each additional one-quarter acre up to a maximum of eight adult animals total, in any combination thereof. No cattle on lots under 1 acre; 1 bovine per extra 1/2 acre, up to 6. Applies: Applies to noncommercial keeping in the R-A zone. § 20.11.40 · code text One bovine may be kept for each additional one-half acre up to a maximum of six bovine. No more than 1 extra animal per 1/4 acre, and no more than 6 extra animals. Applies: Applies to a 6-month Temporary Animal Permit for a minor's fair project sponsored by a real agricultural organization. § 20.11.40 · code text The increase in animal density shall not exceed one horse, donkey, mule, cow, dairy stock, goat, hog, sheep, or other similar animal per one-quarter acre of lot area. In any case, no more than six additional animals shall be allowed.
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Exotic or wild animals, noncommercial aviaries (not chickens), beekeeping, homing or racing pigeons, and frog or earthworm farms on lots of 1/2 acre or more. § 20.11.40 · code text The following shall be subject to the conditional use permit procedure as provided in section 20.2.50 of this Chapter: A Temporary Animal Permit is required. Applies: Extra livestock for a minor's student fair project; needs written consent of each neighboring owner; lasts 6 months; 1 per lot per year. § 20.11.40 · code text An application for a Temporary Animal Permit shall include the following:
Pet limit	Up to 2 adult dogs or 2 adult cats, or no more than 4 adult dogs and cats combined. Applies: Applies to lots smaller than 1/4 acre in the R-A, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones. § 20.11.40 · code text On lots smaller than one-quarter acre, the keeping of dogs or cats shall not exceed two adult dogs or two adult cats or a combination totaling not more than four adult animals on any one lot. Per 1/4 acre: 2 adult dogs, 2 cats, or 4 combined; at most 6 dogs, 6 cats, or 8 combined. Applies: Applies to lots of 1/4 acre or more in the R-A, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones. § 20.11.40 · code text On lots of one-quarter acre or greater, two adult dogs or two adult cats or a combination totaling not more than four adult animals may be kept on a parcel for each one-quarter acre of net lot area, up to a maximum of six adult dogs or six adult cats; or a combination totaling not more than eight adult animals. Up to 5 adult household pets other than dogs and cats per 1/4 acre; no more than 10 per lot. Applies: Applies in the R-A, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones. § 20.11.40 · code text The keeping of up to five domestic, adult household pets, other than dogs and cats, including domestic birds, rabbits, hamsters, rats, mice, etc., shall be permitted in any combination of species for each one-quarter acre of net lot area, provided the total number of adult household pets kept does not exceed ten animals on any one lot.

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