§ 6-66. Special permits.

(a)

The director is hereby authorized to issue a special permit for the keeping of large livestock or wild animals in accordance with any applicable state or federal law, and without regard to the foregoing provisions of this article, provided the director first finds the following:

(1)

The animal(s), as kept, will not unreasonably endanger the life, health or property of any person.

(2)

The animal(s), as kept, will not become a nuisance.

(3)

The animal(s), as kept, will conform to the requirements hereinafter stated in section 6-67 of this article.

(b)

The director may, upon making the aforesaid findings, issue a special permit to the following:

(1)

Veterinary hospitals and clinics.

(2)

Medical and research institutions.

(3)

Zoological parks.

(4)

Circuses, rodeos and other similar activities wherein animals are shown, exhibited or perform.

(5)

Persons keeping large livestock, small animals or fowl for a bona fide scientific or educational purpose when sponsored or organized by a licensed educational institution or authority.

(6)

Any bona fide law enforcement or other governmental purpose.

(7)

Prohibited animals may qualify for a special permit in particular those that may have been purchased prior to March 1, 2010.

(8)

If a special permit is granted for a prohibited animal it must be registered with the health department, pay any related fees and adhere to appropriate keeping, safety and public health measures stipulated by the director.

(9)

Operators of community gardens or district gardens.

(c)

Written application, upon such form as the director may prescribe, shall be submitted to the director for all special permits issued hereunder and shall contain complete information, statements of consent or opposition from all abutting and adjacent neighbors, and shall be attested to by the applicant's supervisory authority (when an educational project). The director shall have final authority to grant or deny a special permit independent of whatever abutting and adjacent neighbors consent to or oppose the special permit.

(d)

All of the special permits shall be in writing in a form to be prescribed by the director and shall state upon their face the name and address of the applicant, the address or other location of the area for which the permit is to be used, and the conditions to which it is subject, and shall state a date of expiration thereof, not to exceed one (1) year from date of issuance and must comply with all permits and fees. The director may suspend or revoke the permit for violation of any provision of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 86-24, § 1, 2-17-86; Ord. No. 93-62, § 1, 4-19-94; Ord. No. 97-258, § 1, 10-27-97; Ord. No. 2010-O-029, § 1, 3-15-10; Ord. No. 2017-O-072 , § 2, 7-3-17)