Laserfiche WebLink
File Number: 13-426 <br />BACKGROUND <br />Current regulations do not allow for the keeping of chickens or bees in a residential district. In <br />2011, the City Council directed staff to research and develop regulations to allow for chickens <br />and bees in residential districts. The proposed ordinance is a result of extensive research on <br />chickens and bees, public and council input, and reviewing policies of other cities. <br />Analysis <br />Staff has worked with community members and the City Attorney’s Office to develop <br />regulations that balance the desire of some residents to raise chickens and bees with the <br />ability to regulate these activities and ensure public health and safety. The following revisions <br />are being proposed to the current ordinance: <br />4-11-1100: Adds exemptions for animals kept for research or teaching, veterinarians, <br />animal husbandry and pet shops. <br />4-11-1105: Updated to allow continued animal husbandry in the RO (Residential Outer) <br />district in compliance with current Zoning Code regulations. <br />4-11-1110: Establishes minimum housing and care requirements for animals. <br />4-11-1200: Allows for up to four chickens on parcels with an area of ** or greater <br />without an animal permit. Chickens may be kept on smaller parcels with an animal <br />permit. <br />** Council Considerations: <br />1.City Council Rules Committee recommends allowing chickens on parcels of 4,500 <br />sq. ft. or larger without a permit. <br />2.Staff recommends allowing chickens on parcels of 6,000 sq. ft. or larger without a <br />permit. <br />The City Council Rules Committee requested a parcel map outlining citywide <br />property lot size, which is attached to this report. Staff took into consideration public <br />input from residents who shared significant concerns about the negative impact <br />chickens could impose on neighbors. Most of the concerns are related to noise, <br />rodents, odor and the ability to conduct enforcement. <br />In determining the appropriate lot size for keeping up to four chickens without a <br />permit, staff considered the potential impact on adjoining neighbors . Staff <br />determined enforcement would be difficult on a noise complaint of up to four <br />chickens, on any property that was given a property right to have same, absent the <br />permit. For example, if a 4,500 sf. property is entitled to have 4 chickens without a <br />permit received a noise complaint, since they are entitled to up to four chickens, <br />and chickens can be noisy, there would be no enforcement recourse. To balance <br />the community concern on noise and odor chickens create and to allow for <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 8/27/2013