04-21-2025 - Agenda Packet Planning Commission - Packet

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ARTICLE IV: ANIMAL CODE DIVISION A: GENERAL PROVISIONS § 12.90 FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. This Article IV is enacted to establish standards for the regulation of domestic, farm and wild animals in the city to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public. The principle objectives of this Article IV of city code are: (a) To prevent nuisance conditions associated with the keeping of animals; (b) To prevent the inhumane or cruel treatment of animals; (c) To enact regulations governing potentially dangerous animals , dangerous animals and animal enclosures ; (d) To prescribe city animal shelter procedures and to provide for animal enforcement procedures; (e) To control the spread of rabies in the community and to protect the general public from animals that pose a risk of rabies infection; (f) To preserve a balance of wild animals and birds and prevent the unselective catching, maiming and destruction of wild animals , birds and domestic animals that come in contact with traps ; (g) To prescribe uniform procedures relating to the impoundment of animals found to be in violation of state law and city code; (h) To prohibit the keeping of wild animals as pets in an urban setting in an effort to prevent the risk of harm to the general public; (i) To prevent nuisance conditions associated with the feeding of wild animals , specifically disruption to their natural feeding habits, their concentration at artificial feeding centers making them more susceptible to disease transmission, the attraction of predators and the accumulation of feces in and around the area of artificial feeding; and (j) To prescribe standards for the keeping of domestic animals , chickens, farm poultry and farm animals to avoid nuisance conditions, disease transmission and property blight. (Ord. 2010-28, passed 11-1-2010) § 12.91 DEFINITIONS. The following words and terms, when used in this Article IV, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. ANIMAL. Every non-human species of animal, including domestic, farm and wild. ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY. The Bloomington Police Department having oversight and control over the city’s animal control officers or designee. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. An officer employed by or under contract with the city who is responsible for animal control enforcement. ANIMAL REQUIRING A LICENSE. A dog, cat or ferret that is three months or older. APIARY. The assembly of one or more colonies of bees at a single location. AQUARIUM. A building or institution in which aquatic animals are kept for commercial exhibition or display. AT LARGE. An animal is AT LARGE when it is off the premises owned or occupied by its owner and is not accompanied or under restraint of the owner , or other competent person , as defined in this section. BEEHIVE. A receptacle inhabited by a colony that is manufactured for the purpose of housing bees . BEEKEEPER. A person who owns or has charge of one or more colonies of bees . BEES. Flying insects domestically raised by beekeepers for their production of honey and beeswax or their beneficial pollination activities. CITY ANIMAL SHELTER. Any premises designated by the city for the purposes of impounding and caring for all animals held under authority of this Article IV. CLEAN. The absence of dirt, grease, rubbish, garbage, animal and bodily excretions, and other offensive, unsightly or extraneous matter. COLONY. An aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but typically having one queen and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey. COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISHMENT. Any business that breeds, raises, sells, boards, distributes or exhibits animals for entertainment or educational purposes including, but not limited to, kennels, aquariums , pet shops , petting zoos, riding schools or stables , zoological parks , or performing animal exhibitions as licensed under § 14.94. 155