How Many Dogs Can I Own in a Single Family Residence?
Full Question:
Answer:
I am unable to locate an ordinance restricting dog ownership by number of dogs. It is possible that a homeowners' association exists and such a limit is in the restrictions of the homeowners' association, or that such a restriction is governed by lease terms of a landlord.
Please see the following Bakersfield ordinances:
6.04.230 Keeping noisy animals— Complaints—Investigation.
A. No person shall keep or maintain, or cause or permit to be kept or maintained upon any premises in the city, or upon any public street, highway, sidewalk, alley, park, playground or other public place in the city, any animal, bird or fowl which by any sound or cry whatsoever unreasonably disturbs the peace and comfort of any neighborhood or interferes with the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property by any person. Every day during which any person continues to keep or maintain any such animal, bird or fowl shall be a separate violation of this chapter.
B. It shall be the duty of the chief of police to receive and investigate or cause to be investigated all complaints regarding any animal, bird or fowl being kept or maintained in violation of the provisions of this section, and to enforce the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 3940 § 1 (part), 1999: Ord. 3256 § 3,1989: prior code § 9.08.240)
6.04.220 Dogs at large—Impounding.
A. It is unlawful for any animal owner to cause, permit or allow a dog, whether or not the same is licensed and/or vaccinated, to stray, run, or in any other manner, to be at large in or upon any public highway, street, sidewalk, alley, lane, park or other public place, or upon the property of any person other than the animal owner, without the permission of the owner or occupant of such property; provided, however, that a dog is not at large within the meaning of this chapter if it is under the control of a competent person and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length.
B. Any person finding at any time any dog at large contrary to the provisions of this chapter may take up and hold the same; provided, however, that such person so taking up such dog shall, within four hours after taking up such dog, or if such dog is taken up at a time when the city pound is not open for the transaction of business, within four hours after the pound is again open for business, notify the director of animal control of the fact that he has such dog in his possession and shall, upon demand, surrender possession of such dog to the director of animal control. It shall be the duty of the director of animal control to take custody of any such dog and impound the same subject to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 3940 § 1 (part), 1999: prior code § 9.08.230)
6.04.040 Dog license—Required— Vaccination.
A. It is unlawful for any animal owner to keep or maintain a dog in any place in the city, unless such dog is licensed as provided in Section 6.04.050. This section shall have no application to dogs under the age of four months fastened securely by a chain, rope or leash, or confined within the private property of their owners.
B. The license collector shall not license any dog until it has been vaccinated with canine rabies vaccine by injection or other method approved by the director of animal control during the calendar year for which it is licensed, and the animal owner shall produce a certificate of such vaccination, unless the animal owner submits a certificate from a licensed veterinarian issued within the preceding sixty days stating that in his opinion the rabies vaccination would be likely to seriously injure the dog. Any dog so exempted from rabies vaccination shall be restricted to the enclosed yard of the owner or person in possession of the same except when held upon a chain, rope or leash. Any violation thereof by the animal owner constitutes a violation of this chapter.
C. The vaccination shall be performed by any duly authorized person, licensed physician or veterinarian. The person vaccinating such dog shall issue to the animal owner a certificate of vaccination.
D. It is unlawful for any animal owner to keep or maintain any such dog in any place in the city unless such dog has been vaccinated as required by this section, excepting dogs under the age of four months fastened securely by a chain, rope or leash, or confined within the private property of their owners, and excepting dogs exempted from the requirement of vaccination by reason of the likelihood of serious injury as provided in subsection B of this section. (Ord. 3940 § 1 (part), 1999: prior code § 9.08.040)
6.05.020 Administrative hearing to determine if dog is potentially dangerous or vicious, or if owner of a previously determined potentially dangerous or vicious dog is in violation of this title, or if dog is a significant public threat.
A. If an investigation conducted by any peace officer or animal control officer results in a determination that there is probable cause to believe that (1) a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious; or (2) that the owner of a previously determined potentially dangerous or vicious dog is in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or orders of the city manager or his or her designee issued pursuant thereto; or (3) if any dog is a significant threat to the public health, safety and welfare, the director of animal control shall file with the city manager or his or her designee a verified complaint setting forth facts that establish probable cause to believe the dog in question is potentially dangerous or vicious, that the owner of a previously-determined, potentially dangerous or vicious dog is in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or orders issued pursuant thereto, or that a dog is a significant threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
B. The city manager or his or her designee shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of determining whether or not the dog in question should be declared potentially dangerous or vicious, or if the owner of a dog previously determined potentially dangerous or vicious is in violation of this title and if so, what orders or penalties should apply, or if a dog poses a significant threat to public health, safety and welfare and, if so, what orders should apply. (Ord. 3941 § 1 (part), 1999)
6.05.090 Seizure, impoundment and destruction of dogs which are significant public threat.
If, upon investigation, it is determined by a police officer or animal control officer that probable cause exists to believe any dog poses an immediate threat to public safety, then the peace officer or animal control officer may enter any premises where the dog is kept, other than a place of residence or closed garage, to seize and impound the dog pending any hearing to be held pursuant to this chapter. Subsequent to such hearing, if the dog is determined to be vicious and its release would create a significant threat to the public health, safety and welfare, the city manager or his or her designee may issue an order that the director of animal control destroy the dog. No such order shall take effect until at least two working days after the personal service of the order upon the known animal owner or seven working days after the date of mailing if the order is sent by first-class mail to the known animal owner. If the animal owner is unknown, no such order shall take effect until the dog has been impounded at least seven calendar days. (Ord. 3941 § 1 (part), 1999)
See also:
http://www.qcode.us/codes/bakersfield/