Animal zoning regulations (Chapter 6.10)
Livestock limits rewritten Nov. 16, 2021; the cleanup ordinance was tabled Jan. 4 and Feb. 1, 2022 and approved 4-0 on Feb. 15, 2022.
- Where it stands
- Approved
- Type
- Code change
Every hearing and vote
November 16, 2021 · City Council
Animal zoning regulations (Chapter 6.10)
Approved with conditions · 5-0
After the council halted Tayler Jensen's presentation of a staff proposal that excluded chickens, dogs and cats, the hearing ran from 8:27 to 9:36 p.m. Residents including Mike Boyd and John Hubbard supported clarifying cumulative animal counts and reducing per-acre totals; Brent Strong supported a point system; Bettina Cameron, Heather Beck and many others opposed the point system and counting miniature cattle as half a cow; several written comments opposed banning chickens on lots under a half-acre. Council Member Carolyn Love moved to deny the staff ordinance and substitute changes: a new 2 to 2.99-acre column (including 8 horses or mules, 4 buffalo, 8 cattle, 12 sheep or goats, 6 pigs), miniature and adolescent animals counting as half a full-sized adult, fowl excluded from livestock standards, and removal of the Airpark zone section 6.10.060. Council Member Jared Gray had proposed counting miniature cattle as half and changing setback wording, which Love declined to add.
January 4, 2022 · City Council
Animal zone regulations (Chapter 6.10)
Tabled · 5-0
Jensen brought back the Nov. 16, 2021 ordinance to confirm the adopted language matched the council's intent. Love said a change to 'an animal shelter or structure' was unintended and proposed reverting to the pre-Nov. 16 standards; Curtis and Burnham raised setback concerns. Speakers including Mike Boyd and John Hubbard commented, and Hubbard and Bettina Cameron raised a possible conflict involving Gray's livestock, which City Attorney Jeremy Cook said owning animals does not create. The council tabled it and applies the pre-Nov. 16 standards in the meantime.
February 1, 2022 · City Council
Animal zoning regulations (Chapter 6.10)
Tabled · 5-0
Tayler Jensen said the amendment removes Airpark Zone references, adds a 1 to 1.99-acre column, reduces pigs and buffalo, and handles exceptions by conditional use permit. Love recommended tabling; Council Member Jared Gray wanted to keep pigs on lots under three acres; Curtis favored setbacks based on the shelter or feeding area; Wright wanted clearer setbacks and a definition of miniature animals; Council Member Donna Burnham wanted practical fencing standards. Eleven speakers supported animal rights; Bettina Cameron asked for research into other cities; John Hubbard asked for analysis of cumulative impacts. The council directed staff to consider changes such as two pigs on half-acre lots, two buffalo and four pigs on one-acre lots and a per-animal fenced-area column, and tabled it, assigning Wright and Burnham to work with staff.
February 15, 2022 · City Council
Animal zoning regulations (Chapter 6.10)
Approved · 4-0
Tayler Jensen summarized changes: setbacks from residences removed, fenced area for horses, mules and buffalo cut to 2,500 square feet per animal, minimums for pigs (half acre) and buffalo (one acre) restored, a reasonable-person standard for half-size animals, pigs not counted until weaned, and fowl exempt. Pig allowances are two on half to 0.99 acre, four on one to 1.99, six on two to 2.99 and eight on three acres or more. The council agreed not to count offspring until weaned. Residents submitted nearly twenty comments; the minutes do not summarize them.
October 21, 2025 · City Council
Alternative animal management plans and zoning updates
Continued · 5-0
Planner Steven Lehmitz presented amendments to EMMC 6.05.260 and 6.10.080, a new Chapter 6.15, changes to accessory dwelling unit sections, removal of public hearings for variances and appeals per state law, and updates to land use tables. No one spoke. After the council made additional changes, City Attorney Marcus Draper said the Planning Commission must review them with the full amendment, and the council remanded it.
December 2, 2025 · City Council
Alternative animal management plans, Titles 6 and 17
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Lehmitz presented revised animal allowances on larger lots, council notification requirements and closer animal-structure setbacks. One person spoke. The council added that the non-transferable notice of intent is tied to the applicant, so the plan ends when the property is sold.