HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance-1996-1050
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SOLANO
Council Bill No. 41
Ordinance No. 1050
Series of 1996
TITLE:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF LAWS TO
DEFINE AND CLASSIFY POTBELLIED PIGS AS
EXOTIC ANIMALS AND TO IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS
ON THE GRANTING OF EXCEPTIONS BY THE
ANIMAL CONTROL COMMISSION
WHEREAS, Chapter 4 of the Code of Laws classifies swine as
domestic animals; and
WHEREAS, the Council wishes to classify potbellied pigs, which
lS an imported variety of swine, as exotic animals and provide for
certain requirements for the granting of exceptions by the Anlmal
Control Commission for potbellied pigs.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE,
COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subsection 4-14 (d) (1) of the Wheat Ridge Code of
Laws is hereby amended as follows'
(1) The following are domestic animals.
Aquarium fishes
Psitocine birds, aviary finches, etc., farm
birds (ducks, geese, swans, poultry).
Domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)
Mongolian gerbil (Meriones Unguicularus)
Guinea pig (Cavia porceilus) .
Hamster (Musorcriectus Auratus) .
Domestic laboratory mouse (Mus Domesticus)
Domestic laboratory rat (Rattus Rattus Albino
Strain) .
Domestic cat (Felis Catus) .
Domestlc dog (Canis Familiaris)
Domestic livestock, including but not limited
to: Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, mules
donkeys, burros, llamas, honeybees, and swine
(EXCEPT POTBELLIED PIGS, Sus Scrofa Vittatus,
WHICH IS AN IMPORTED VARIETY OF SWINE AND
WHICH SHALL BE CONSIDERED EXOTIC ANIMALS) .
Section 2. Subsection 4-14 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws is
hereby amended as follows:
RCW\,53U~~\1~212~ 2
RC'W',53:J27' 1"".:21-
Sec. 4-14.
Exotic or wild animals.
(a) Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person
to own, possess, harbor, sell, or in any other manner
traffic in any exotic or wild animals, that is, any
animal that is not a domestic animal, whether it is a
native animal of this state or not.
(b) Exceptions. The animal control commlSSlon may
grant exceptions to this section for successive periods
of time not to exceed twelve (12) months
(C) POTBELLIED PIGS.
(1) ANY EXCEPTIONS GRANTED BY THE ANIMAL CONTROL
COMMISSION FOR A POTBELLIED PIG, SUS SCROFA VITTATUS,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-14(B) SHALL BE LIMITED AS FOLLOWS.
(I)
(II)
(III)
(IV)
(V)
(VI)
(VII)
(VIII)
(IX)
NO MORE THAN TWO (2) POTBELLIED PIGS MAY BE
KEPT AT ONE RESIDENCE OR LOCATION, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT AN ADDITIONAL PIG MAY BE KEPT
FOR EACH ONE (1) ACRE OF PROPERTY IN EXCESS OF
THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE;
EVERY POTBELLIED PIG MUST BE NEUTERED OR
SPAYED BY THE AGE OF FOUR (4) MONTHS;
NO POTBELLIED PIG MAY WEIGH MORE THAN 150
POUNDS NOR BE TALLER THAN 22 INCHES IN HEIGHT;
THE POTBELLIED PIG MUST BE CERTIFIED AS SUCH
BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN OR BE AN OFFICIALLY
REGISTERED POTBELLIED PIG,
PENNED EXTERIOR AREAS CONFINING POTBELLIED
PIGS MUST BE NO CLOSER THAN FIFTEEN (15) FEET
TO A SIDE OR REAR YARD LOT LINE AND NO CLOSER
THAN THIRTY (30) FEET TO A RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURE LOCATED ON AN ADJACENT LOT;
OUTDOOR ENCLOSURES MUST BE KEPT CLEAN,
PRIOR TO THE GRANTING OF AN EXCEPTION, OWNERS
MUST REVIEW EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED BY
THE ANIMAL CONTROL COMMISSION RELATED TO THE
CARE AND KEEPING OF POTBELLIED PIGS;
THE ANIMAL CONTROL COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT
RULES OF PROCEDURE RELATED TO THE REVIEW OF
COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE KEEPING OF POTBELLIED
PIGS FOR WHICH AN EXCEPTION HAS BEEN GRANTED;
AND
THE ANIMAL CONTROL COMMISSION MAY IMPOSE
REASONABLE CONDITIONS PRIOR TO GRANTING OR
DURING THE TERM OF ANY EXCEPTION WHICH 1S
NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE ANIMAL'S HEALTH AND
THE SAFETY AND ENJOYMENT OF ADJACENT
PROPERTIES AND OWNERS.
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(2) THE KEEPING OF POTBELLIED PIGS, SUS SCROFA
VITTATUS, WHICH IS AN EXOTIC ANIMAL, SHALL BE PERMITTED
IN THE AGRICULTURAL TWO ZONE DISTRICT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTIONS 4-14(B) AND (C).
(3) NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 26,
THE KEEPING OF AN EXOTIC ANIMAL FOR WHICH THE COMMISSION
HAS GRANTED AN EXCEPTION PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION
4-14 (C) SHALL BE DEEMED A LAWFUL USE OF THE AFFECTED
PROPERTY.
Section 3. Safety Clause. The City Council hereby finds,
determines, and declares that this Ordinance is promulgated under
the general police power of the City of Wheat Ridge, that it is
promulgated for the health, safety, and welfare of the public and
that this Ordinance is necessary for the preservation of health and
safety and for the protection of public convenience and welfare
The City Council further determines that the Ordinance bears a
rational relation to the proper legislative object sought to be
attained
Section 4 Severabilitv. If any clause, sentence, paragraph,
or part of this Ordinance or Application thereof to any person or
circumstances shall for any reason be judged by a court of
competent jurisdiction invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
impair or invalidate the remainder of this Ordinance or its
application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect
fifteen days after final publication.
INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of 8
to 0 on this 26th day of August, 1996, ordered published in full in
a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Wheat Ridge and
Public Hearing and consideration on final passage set for
September 23, 1996, and continued to October 14, 1996, at 7: 00
o'clock p.m., in the Council Chambers, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat
Ridge, Colorado.
READ, ADOPTED AND
reading by a vote of 8
ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and
to 0 , this 14th day of October,
final
1996
SlGNED by the Mayor on this
15th day of October
, 19
~~
DAN WILDE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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WANDA SANG, CITY CLER~
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GERALD E. DAHL, CITY ATTORNEY
1st Publication August 30, 1996; October 4, 1996
2nd publication October 25, 1996
Wheat Ridge Transcript
Effective Date: November 9, 1996
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