Can I have backyard chickens in San Bruno, Ca?

[ccsun0201]

Hi everyone

I am completely new to backyard chickens as this is my first post so pardon my inexperience. I have been lurking around on this board for quite some time now looking for definitions on local laws. San Mateo county is well represented but I can't find much information on city of San Bruno. I've found the local ordinances, but I am having a hard time deciphering the letter of the law.

From what I can decipher from 6.36.230 is saying I can keep chickens as long as they are pets and the most I can keep would be 2. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Title 6 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
Chapter 6.36 ANIMAL CONTROL

6.36.230 Permit—Requirement.

A. No person, firm or corporation shall keep or allow to be kept on his, her or its premises within the city any live chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, peacocks, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs (except as permitted by Section 6.36.290 below), or similar fowl; nor any hares, rabbits, monkeys, or similar animals; nor any lions, tigers, bears, snakes or other animals which are normally wild and only uniquely a pet; nor any number of specified animals above the number permitted by subsection B below; except as permitted by this chapter or otherwise provided.

B. A permit shall not be required for the keeping of not more than four cats; two dogs; or two household pets of any other one kind over the age of four months, including but not exceeding two in number of each of the following fowl or rabbits: chickens, roosters, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, doves, squabs (except as permitted by Section 6.36.290), similar fowl or rabbits.

1. Any rooster or rooster kept pursuant to the above provision, over the age of four months may not be kept unless such rooster(s) is decrowed.

C. There shall be no limit on the number of household pets of less than four months of age that may be kept or maintained, provided they are offspring of the household pet at the dwelling. (Ord. 1483 § 2 (part), 1987)

Title 10 MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Chapter 10.04 DEFINITIONS

10.04.360 Premises.

“Premises” means any place, lot, piece or parcel of land, whether enclosed or unenclosed, occupied by or in any way devoted to the maintenance of any boardinghouse, eating house, lodging house, restaurant, hotel, hospital, store, apartment house, dwelling house or flat, and any stable, stall, shed, pen, yard, area or enclosure in any way devoted to the keeping of fowl, livestock, or other animals. (Ord. 1562 § 2 (part), 1995)

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Maybe call Animal Control to be sure

 

[MaKettle]

Sounds to me like they are saying 2 chickens, max. Maybe with a permit you could have a few more??

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

What does section 6.36.20 say?

 

[ccsun0201]

I think I'll give animal control a call and see if they know. Sonoran - I checked the San Bruno Municipal code and there isn't section 6.36.220

 

[Mark94066]

You are correct, the ordinance limits you to 2 chickens total.
It is really unfair, because they allow 4 cats.. and up to 50 pigeons.


6.36.290 Racing and homing pigeons.
A. The keeping and raising of racing or homing pigeons may be allowed in conjunction with any single-family residence within the city, subject to a permit approved by the director of planning and building and the administrator of the animal control program, or his or her designated representative, whose decisions are subject to appeal to the planning commission of the city of San Bruno. Conditions of the permit shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. No person shall keep, maintain or harbor pigeons unless pigeons are kept or maintained in an approved pigeon loft as is defined in this section.
2. Such pigeon loft shall contain no more than fifty homing or racing pigeons, including squab. Each pigeon shall wear a metal or plastic leg band to identify the owner or keeper thereof. The owner shall maintain a record of the age and date of acquisition of such pigeons and such record shall be open for inspection by the administrator of the animal control program, or his or her designated representative.
3. The homing or racing pigeons kept in a pigeon loft may not be allowed by the owner or keeper to perch or linger on buildings or property of others in the vicinity of the pigeon loft. The pigeon loft shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary and wholesome manner at all times and shall be subject to periodic inspection by the administrator of the animal control program, or his or her designated representative.
4. Pigeon lofts shall be of a size sufficient to house the number of pigeons contemplated. In no case shall there be more than one pair of pigeons per two and one-fourth square feet of loft space. Lofts shall not be located any closer to any residence than twenty-five feet on an adjacent parcel, within fifty feet of the front of the property line nor within five feet of any property line.
B. As used herein, “pigeon loft” means only such structures as approved by the city building inspector for the keeping of no more than fifty homing or racing pigeons as are duly approved by permit as provided in this section. Application for a pigeon loft shall be made on a form prescribed by the building department and shall be accompanied by the established fee.
C. Appeals. Any person may appeal the granting or denial of a permit to keep or house pigeons. Such appeal must be made in writing to the planning commission, by submitting such appeal to the city clerk. Revocation of a permit may be appealed in the same manner within fifteen calendar days of the action taken on the permit.
D. The planning commission shall deny the granting or restoration of a pigeon permit unless it finds that the building and other criteria as set forth in this section have been met, and that such use is not detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the applicants and adjoining residents and property owners.
E. City Council Findings. The city council finds and declares that the keeping, raising, maintaining or harboring of pigeons in any manner inconsistent with this section is a nuisance and authorizes the summary abatement of such by the officials charged with the enforcement of this section. (Ord. 1483 § 2, 1987)