If you are keeping only horses, or other animals
belonging to the equine family on your property, then you may have 2 animals if
you have 3 acres of land. You may have
one additional horse or equine for every additional full acre over the initial
3 acres. Horse owners are required to
file a sketch of their property at the City identifying the number of horses
kept on the property and the size and location of the barn and pasture. Persons owning property from 1.5 to 2.9
acres in size may apply for a conditional use permit to have 1 or 2
horses. Barns or stables must be at least
75 feet from any property line and 50 feet from the nearest dwelling. Commercial horse boarding is not a permitted
use in the residential districts. If
you plan to have a mix of farm animals on your property, then the number of
horses that are allowed is subject to the regulations established in the Farm
Animal Ordinance.
Am I allowed to keep farm animals on my property:
The number of farm animals
allowed on a property is regulated by the number of animal units assigned to
each type of animal and the size of the property. Animal unit is defined as a measure used to compare differences
in production of animal wastes. The
following chart establishes the number of animal units assigned to certain
livestock and poultry:
Animal Number
of Units
Cow 1.5
Horse,
Mule, Llama 1.0
Donkey,
Burrow, Pony, Goat, Pig, Sheep, Lamb .5
Turkey, Goose .1
Chicken,
Duck .04
The following chart prescribes the number of animal
units that can be maintained on lots of record to which the animal owner has
fee title. (Horses are subject to these
criteria when there are other farm animals also being kept on the
property. When only horses are being
kept, refer to the horse ordinance for allowable numbers and property size
requirements.)
Parcel
Size Number
of Animal Units Allowed
3
acres (130,680 square feet) 2
5
acres (217,800 square feet) 3
10
acres (435,600 square feet) 5
15
acres (653,400 square feet) 7
20
acres + (871,200 square feet) No limitation
Maintenance of more animals than the prescribed
number above is permitted only with a Conditional Use Permit.
What does City Code allow for Exotic Animals and Wild Animals?
City Code requires a conditional use permit to keep
exotic or wild animals on a parcel.
How many dogs and cats can I have?
You may have 2 adult dogs; adult is defined as over
6 months of age. To have a 3rd
dog requires an administrative kennel license, which is reviewed and approved
by City Staff. To have more than 3 dogs
requires a conditional use permit. All
dogs must be licensed and are prohibited from running at large.
All
cats must be licensed but there currently is not a restriction on the number of
cats that may be kept on the property.
Can I have a business in my home?
Yes, if you are successful in obtaining a Home
Occupation Permit from the City Council.
The Planning Commission reviews the application and makes a
recommendation to City Council to approve or deny the application. Home occupations are defined as businesses
carried on within the confines of the home; not the attached or detached
garage. Employees would be limited to
residents of the home. Some home
businesses are not subject to the home occupation permit requirements; call the
Planning Department for more information.
What are the regulations for fences in residential districts.
In the metropolitan urban service area, front yard
fences are restricted to 4 feet in height and side and rear yard fences are
restricted to a height of 6 feet.
Outside the metropolitan urban service area, fences may be up to 8 feet
in height in any yard. However, any
front yard fence over four feet in height must be setback at least 100 feet
from the front property line unless it has at least 75% clear and visible
opening. Fence framing must face
inward. Fences must be located 100% on
the owners property. Approved fence
materials are wood, chain link, maintenance free vinyl, or any other material
approved by the Community Development Department.
What are the regulations regarding grass, weeds, and lawns?
Grass and weeds may not exceed a height of 12
inches. Noxious weeds are
prohibited. Residents have one year
from the date of occupancy to stabilize their yards with a natural ground
cover, sod, seed, native grasses or wildflowers.
Can I park my commercial vehicles and/or equipment at my home?
Commercial vehicles and equipment may be parked and
stored on residential property if they are kept indoors, or if they are parked
in the rear or side yard and screened to a degree of 75% from neighboring
properties and the public road.
Commercial vehicles and equipment parked outdoors in the urban service
area must be on a pad of bituminous or concrete; outside the urban service area
boundary, the pad must consist of at least a con-bit or prepared gravel
material. Vehicles are defined as
self-propelled devices eligible for legal use on public roads. Equipment is defined as any motorized or
non-motorized apparatus not eligible for legal operation on public roads.
All vehicles parked outdoors must be in operating
condition. Only one unlicensed vehicle
may be parked outside; all other unlicensed or inoperable vehicles must be
stored in a building. All vehicles and
equipment parked in the front yard must be on the driveway. In the urban service area, vehicles and
equipment parked in the side yard must be on a pad of bituminous or concrete;
outside the urban service area, the pad must consist of at least a con-bit or
prepared gravel material. Vehicles
parked in the rear yard must be on a pad of bituminous or concrete in the urban
service area;or con-bit or gravel in the rural area. There are no prepared surface requirements for equipment parked
in the rear yard. Vehicles are defined as self-propelled devices eligible for
legal use on public roads. Equipment is
defined as any motorized or non-motorized apparatus not eligible for legal
operation on public roads.