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Ordinance amending Chapter 9.08 (“Fowl, Livestock, Undomesticated Animals”) of Title 9 (“Animals”) of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to reassign the site inspection authority for animal permits from the County Health Officer to the City Code Enforcement Officer.
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WHEREAS, in 1979, the City enacted Ordinance 794-79 to establish animal control regulations and procedures, which are partly contained in South San Francisco Municipal Code Chapter 9.08 titled “Fowl, Livestock, Undomesticated Animals”; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 9.08 requires a permit for the keeping of certain enumerated animals that are normally wild and only uniquely a pet and sets forth the procedures for obtaining such a permit which include a mandatory inspection of the premises by the County Health Officer; and
WHEREAS, the County of San Mateo (“County”) has been conducting the required site inspections for the City in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9.08; and
WHEREAS, the County has notified the City on May 13, 2025, that the City of South San Francisco is the last remaining city for which the County is providing these site inspection services and that the County will cease to offer the site inspection services to the City; and
WHEREAS, to ensure the continued processing of animal permit applications in accordance with the established procedures, the City now desires to amend Chapter 9.08 to reassign the site inspection authority from the County Health Officer to the City Code Enforcement Officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1 FINDINGS
The City Council of South San Francisco finds that all Recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS
The City Council hereby amends the following sections of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to read as set forth below, with additions in red double underline and deletions in strikethrough. Sections, subsections, subdivisions, tables, paragraphs and texts that are not amended by this Ordinance are not included below, and shall remain in full force and effect.
CHAPTER 9.08 FOWL, LIVESTOCK, UNDOMESTICATED ANIMALS
9.08.010 Definition.
A “unique pet” means for the purpose of this chapter and Chapters 9.04 and 9.12, any bird, fowl, reptile or animal which normally lives in a wild habitat and is a curiosity to the local community when kept in captivity in said community, whether wild or domestic at the time of its keeping. The health officer City Code Enforcement Officer shall make the initial determination as to the uniqueness of said birds, fowls, reptiles or animals, with the advice of the humane officer. Said determination shall be subject to appeal to the city council. Notice of such appeal shall be filed with the city clerk within ten days after the health officer’s City Code Enforcement Officer’s initial determination.
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9.08.040 Permit-Issuance.
Immediately upon receipt of any such application, the city clerk shall notify the health officer City Code Enforcement Officer, who shall inspect the premises and submit his findings to the city clerk within fifteen days after being notified to inspect. If the health officer City Code Enforcement Officer finds that the premises where said animals or birds are proposed to be kept is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and they conform to the other requirements of this chapter and Chapters 9.04 and 9.12, the city clerk shall issue a permit for the keeping of said animals and birds. Such permit shall be renewed annually.
9.08.050 Permit-Denial.
If the health officer City Code Enforcement Officer finds that the premises inspected does not meet the requirements of this chapter and Chapters 9.04 and 9.12, or that the keeping of the animals and birds listed on the application would constitute a public nuisance, or if said animals or birds would jeopardize the health of persons or expose persons or other animals to bodily injury if the animals or birds listed on the application were to escape their enclosure and run or fly at large, the city clerk shall not issue a permit.
9.08.060 Permit-Appeal procedure.
The health officer’s City Code Enforcement Officer’s determination recommending that the permit be denied shall be subject to an appeal to the city manager. Notice of such appeal shall be filed with the city clerk within ten days after the denial of the permit. If notice is not filed within the ten-day period, the determination of the health officer City Code Enforcement Officer, shall be final and conclusive.
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SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed the Ordinance, and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of this Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE
Pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 36933, the City Attorney shall prepare a summary of this Ordinance. At least five (5) days prior to the Council meeting at which this Ordinance is scheduled to be adopted, the City Clerk shall (1) publish the Summary, and (2) post in the City Clerk’s Office a certified copy of this Ordinance. Within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of this Ordinance, the City Clerk shall (1) publish the summary, and (2) post in the City Clerk’s Office a certified copy of the full text of this Ordinance along with the names of those City Council members voting for and against this Ordinance or otherwise voting. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from and after its adoption.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of South San Francisco held the 22nd day of April 2026.
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