§ 23.08.052. Specialized Animal Facilities.

Certain facilities and structures included under the definition of "Animal Raising and Keeping" in Section D, Chapter 7, Part I of the Land Use Element which are used in support of the raising or keeping of animals are also subject to the requirements of this section. These standards apply in addition to all applicable provisions of Title 3 (Food and Agriculture) and Title 17 (Public Health) of the California Administrative Code.

a.

General standards. All the specific uses addressed by subsections b. through g. of this section, and any other uses included under the definition of Specialized Animal Facilities by Coastal Table O, Part I of the Land Use Element, are subject to the following standards, and the provisions of Sections 23.08.046d and e., except where otherwise provided in subsections b. through g.

(1)

Permit requirement. Development Plan approval, except as otherwise provided in subsections b. through g. of this section.

(2)

Application content. Permit applications required by this section shall include all information specified by Sections 23.02.030 et seq. of this title, all information specified by Section 23.08.046c, and a description of measures proposed for rodent and vector control, which shall be approved by the Agricultural Commissioner and Health Department.

(3)

Conditions of approval. Approval of a Minor Use Permit or Development Plan for a specialized animal facility shall include such conditions as are necessary to assure sanitary operations which will not create a nuisance or health hazard.

(4)

Parking requirements. Except where specific parking requirements are set through Minor Use Permit or Development Plan approval, no improved parking is required, provided that sufficient usable area is made available to accommodate all employee and user vehicles entirely on the site.

(5)

Maintenance and operational standards. The Specialized Animal Facilities allowed pursuant to this section are subject to the same maintenance and operational standards as are applied by this title to animal raising and keeping by Section 23.08.046e, except where Minor Use Permit or Development Plan approval imposes conditions of approval that authorize alternative measures.

(6)

Animal Density. There is no limitation on the number of animals that may be kept on a site approved for a specialized animal facility pursuant to this section, except where limits may be set by the applicable approval body through conditions of approval, because of specific problems associated with keeping animals on the site that are identified through the land use permit process.

b.

Animal hospitals and veterinary medical facilities.

(1)

Limitation on use. Animal hospitals and veterinary medical facilities are not allowed in the Residential Suburban and Residential Single Family land use categories.

(2)

Permit requirement. As required by Chapter 23.03 of this title in the Office and Professional, Commercial Retail, Commercial Service, Industrial and Public Facilities categories; Minor Use Permit in other allowed categories, except Residential Rural, where Development Plan approval is required.

(3)

Minimum site area. 6,000 square feet in the Office and Professional, Commercial Retail, Commercial Service, Industrial and Public Facilities categories; one acre in other allowed categories.

(4)

Site requirements.

(i)

Setbacks. When located in the Agriculture, Rural Lands and Recreation categories, enclosures for the keeping of animals shall be located 100 feet from any dwelling other than those on the site. Setbacks in other allowed categories shall be provided as required by Sections 23.04.100 et seq. (Setbacks).

(ii)

Access. From a paved, publicly maintained road.

(iii)

Enclosure required. When located in an Office and Professional, Commercial Retail or Commercial Service category, all veterinary activities shall be conducted entirely within a building.

(5)

Operation.

(i)

Care and boarding shall be limited to small animals, and may not include cattle, horses, or swine, except in the Agriculture, Rural Lands, Commercial Service or Industrial categories.

(ii)

The premises shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition by the daily removal of waste and by the use of spray and disinfectants to prevent the accumulation of flies, the spread of disease or offensive odor. Waste incineration is prohibited.

c.

Beef and dairy feedlots. The keeping or raising of four or more cattle per acre (not including unweaned offspring) for a period exceeding 45 days is subject to the following standards:

(1)

Limitation on use. Beef and dairy feedlots may be allowed only within the Agriculture, Rural Lands and Industrial land use categories.

(2)

Minimum site area. 20 acres.

(3)

Location. A feedlot site shall be located so that cattle enclosures are: no closer than one mile from any Residential category located within an urban or village reserve line; and no closer than 400 feet from any dwelling other than those on the site.

(4)

Access. From an all-weather road or railroad spur.

(5)

Waste disposal. To be in accordance with discharge requirements established pursuant to Section 23.06.100 (Water Quality), and any requirements of the Health Department.

(6)

Additional notice. The public notice required for a hearing on a Development Plan by Section 23.01.060 shall include additional mailed notice to all owners of property located within 1,500 feet of the exterior boundaries of the site.

d.

Fowl and poultry ranches. The raising or keeping of more than 20 fowl or poultry for commercial purposes, or at densities greater than 500 square feet of site area per mature animal (or more than one turkey per 3000 square feet) is subject to the same standards that are required of beef and dairy feedlots by subsections c(4) through c(6) of this section and the following:

(1)

Limitation on use. Fowl and poultry ranches are not allowed within Recreation, Residential Single Family or Commercial land use categories.

(2)

Permit requirement. Minor Use Permit.

(3)

Minimum site area. Five acres.

e.

Hog ranches. The raising or keeping of more than three sows, a boar and their unweaned litter is subject to the same standards that are required of beef and dairy feedlots by subsection c. of this section, and the location requirement that a hog ranch shall be located no closer than one mile from any Residential category; and no closer than 1000 feet from any school, or dwelling other than those on the site.

f.

Horse ranches and other equestrian facilities. The keeping of 30 or more horses, or horses at greater densities than provided by Section 23.08.046f(9)(ii), or the establishment of equestrian facilities including boarding stables, riding schools and academies and horse exhibition facilities (for shows or other competitive events), is subject to the following standards:

(1)

Permit requirement. Minor Use Permit; except that Development Plan approval is required within the Residential Single Family category.

(2)

Minimum site area. 10 acres, except where a smaller site area is authorized through Development Plan approval.

g.

Kennels.

(1)

Limitation on use. Kennels in the Recreation, and Residential Single Family categories are limited to noncommercial kennels as defined by Section 9.04.110(t) of the County Code.

(2)

Permit requirement. As required by Chapter 23.03 of this title. In addition, licensing of all kennels by the county Tax Collector is required by Section 9.04.120 of this code.

(3)

Minimum site area. 2-1/2 acres in Residential Rural and Suburban categories; 6,000 square feet in the Office and Professional, Commercial, Industrial and Public Facilities categories; one acre in the Residential Single Family land use category.

(4)

Site design.

(i)

Setbacks. When located in the Residential Rural, Suburban and Single Family categories, enclosures for the keeping of animals shall be located 100 feet from any dwelling other than those on the site. Setbacks in the other allowed categories shall be as required by Section 23.04.100 (Setbacks).

(ii)

Access. None, where no on-site boarding or sale will occur. Where on-site boarding and sales will occur the following access standards apply:

(a)

When located in the Residential Suburban and Single-Family, Recreation, Office and Professional, Industrial, and Commercial Retail and Service land use categories, access is to be provided from a paved, publicly maintained road.

(b)

When located in the Agriculture, Rural Lands or Residential Rural land use categories, access is to be provided from a road improved with chip-seal or better that is maintained through organized maintenance such as a homeowner's association or a road maintenance agreement.

(iii)

Enclosure required. When located in an Office and Professional or Commercial category, all kennel activities shall be conducted entirely within a building.

(5)

Operation. Kennels are subject to the same operation standards as are required for animal hospitals by subsection b(5) of this section.

h.

Zoos. The raising or keeping of animals for public display or the private raising or keeping of zoo animals (pursuant to Section 23.08.046f(13) is subject to the following standards:

(1)

Limitation on use. Zoos may be allowed only in the Recreation or Public Facilities land use categories; the private keeping of zoo animals may be allowed in all land use categories where specialized animal facilities are allowed by the Land Use Element except Residential Suburban and Residential Single Family.

(2)

Permit requirement. Development Plan approval for zoos where animals are on public display; Minor Use Permit for the private raising or keeping of zoo animals.

[Amended 1992, Ord. 2591; 1995, Ord. 2740; 2004, Ord. 3001]