*The City of San Diego, California - Chicken and Gamebird / Fowl Law* - Page 15

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release: January 31, 2012

Contact: Katie Keach, 619-236-6633

Coming Soon to a Yard Near You: Chickens, Goats, and Bees

City Council Approves Changes to Urban Agriculture Regulations

SAN DIEGO, CA (January 31, 2012) – The San Diego City Council today approved changes to local urban agriculture regulations, making it possible for more San Diegans to access locally-produced food. Councilmember Todd Gloria championed many of the changes, which grew out of discussions during the Council’s previous passage of an ordinance easing community garden rules.

“At a community coffee in 2009, a couple of North Park neighbors told me about the challenges they faced because they wanted to raise a couple chickens in their small yard for their eggs. I am incredibly proud that the common-sense measures we passed today will allow more San Diegans to keep small numbers of animals on their property and strengthen their connection to their food,” said Councilmember Todd Gloria.

The changes approved today include:

Farmers’ Markets:

• Daily Farmers’ Market Stands which sell produce (no value-added merchandise) could be permitted in all commercial zones. They could be no larger than 5-feet deep and 16-feet wide.
• Weekly Farmers’ Markets could be permitted as a limited use in all commercial zones (except commercial parking zone) and IL-3-1 Industrial Zone.
• Retail Farms could be permitted in all of the Commercial Regional, Commercial Office and Community Commercial Zones, as well as IL-3-1 Industrial Zone.

Chickens:

• Roosters prohibited.
• Up to 5 chickens allowed with no setback requirements from the onsite house. The coop must be located outside the required setbacks.
• Up to 15 chickens allowed with no setback from onsite house. The coop must be outside required setbacks, or at least 15 feet from property line, whichever is greater.
• Up to 25 chickens may be kept on premises, as long as the coop and outdoor enclosure are a minimum of 50 feet from any residential structure.
• The coop must be predator proof, watertight, ventilated, easily accessed and cleaned, with a minimum of 6 square feet per chicken.

Miniature Goats:

• Can be kept at single family homes and lots developed with single family homes.
• Miniature goats only. Must be de-horned. Males must be neutered.
• Shed must be located outside required setback, predator proof, watertight, ventilated, easily accessed and cleaned, with a minimum of 5 square feet per goat.
• Enclosure must have minimum 5-foot high fence, minimum pen area of 400 square feet, excluding shed.
• Goat products allowed for personal consumption only.

Bee Keeping:

• Allowed Citywide.
• For up to 2 hives: Must be located no closer than 30 feet from offsite residence and 50 feet from right of way.
• More than 2 hives: Must be located 600 feet from offsite residence and 100 feet from right of way.
• No more than 2 hives allowed per lot.
• Must have 6-foot screen unless located 8 feet above grade.
• Required compliance with recognized best practices for bee keeping.

Community Gardens:

• Allowed to sell produce in residential zones one day per week.
• Allowed with Neighborhood Use Permit in the IL-21 industrial zone.

Complete information about the City Council item 333 can be found online: http://dockets.sandiego.gov/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=1306&doctype=Agenda.

Most of the changes are expected to go into effect in mid-March. The new regulations on Retail Farmers, Farmers’ Markets, and Community Gardens will be subject to Coastal Commission approval before they go into effect in the Coastal Overlay Zone.

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