The purpose of these regulations is to allow for the keeping of horses as an accessory use in residential zones and to protect persons and property values from indiscriminate and harmful horsekeeping operations. Commercial horsekeeping requires a conditional use permit (see Chapter 17.70 of this code.)

(Prior code § 9265)

No horse shall be maintained on a lot containing less than ten thousand square feet in area.

A.

Required Lot Area—R-A. No horse shall be maintained on a lot or parcel containing less than ten thousand square feet of area if a riding trail abuts the property or twenty thousand square feet if no riding trail abuts the property. A lot that abuts a riding trail shall have not less than ten thousand square feet with not less than ten thousand square feet for each horse.

B.

Number of Horses Allowed—R-1 through R-4. No horse shall be maintained on a lot containing less than ten thousand square feet in area. The following ratio of horses to acreage shall not be exceeded for noncommercial horsekeeping operations.

1.

Less than one and one-half acres: two horses;

2.

Between one and one-half acres and four acres: four horses;

3.

More than four acres: two horses per acre.

C.

R-A Zone. The following poultry and animals may be kept under the following conditions:

1.

Poultry or rabbits for private noncommercial uses; provided, that all such poultry and rabbits shall be confined at all times within an enclosure;

2.

The grazing of horses and bovine animals (excluding dairies); provided, that sites of four acres or less have no more than two horses or two bovine animals per acre of ground devoted to grazing for same;

3.

Animals raised for bearing, feed or scientific purposes, subject to a conditional use permit.

D.

Occupancy Permit Required. To insure compliance with these regulations, an occupancy permit shall be required for all sites and facilities where horses are kept.

E.

Plot Plan Approval Required. At the time an occupancy permit is requested for keeping of horses, or at the time any additions or changes are requested for an existing horsekeeping facility, a scaled, dimensioned plot plan showing all structures, their use, access and egress, parking areas, corrals, arena area, stalls, hay or feed storage, drinking water and restroom facilities, hose bib locations, stable exits, riding and hiking trails shall be submitted and approved by the city planner.

(Prior code § 9265.1)

A.

Required lot area: The lot shall contain ten thousand square feet and abut a riding trail as shown on the adopted parks and recreation element of the Montebello general plan; and

B.

Lot coverage: Not more than seventy percent of any lot utilized for such purposes may be covered with structures; and

C.

Signs: One sign not more than fifteen square feet in area may be maintained identifying such lot; and

D.

Number of horses: The total number of horses on any such lot shall not exceed the total number of stalls on the lot and shall in no case exceed the ratio of fifty horses per acre; and

E.

Sanitation facilities: Drinking water and toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained for the use of those persons authorized to be on the premises. The health official may allow the common use of facilities on adjacent properties when written permission has been given by the owner and when the distance from the horsekeeping site to the sanitary facilities does not exceed three hundred feet.

(Prior code § 9265.2)

All sites where horses are kept shall comply with the following site development standards.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (part))

All on-site excavating and grading shall be done in compliance with the excavating and grading regulations as contained in Chapter 15.48 of this code.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (A))

All sites shall be improved and maintained to provide adequate site drainage into acceptable drainage course or storm drain facilities. All drainage facilities shall be maintained to prevent accumulation of debris, obstructions and standing water.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (B))

All areas where horses are kept shall be surrounded by a substantial fence with gates having a minimum height of five feet. The lowest member of the fence shall not be more than one foot above the ground. Horizontal intermediate members in open-type railings shall not be spaced more than two feet apart.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (C))

All areas where horses are kept shall be separated from adjoining public streets by a minimum setback of one hundred feet or by screen-type landscaping at least five-feet high that obscures the view. All such landscaping shall be provided with irrigation and maintained.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (D))

All grain or pellet feed shall be stored in a verminproof container.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (E))

All vehicular driveways, parking and turning areas shall be paved and maintained in compliance with Chapter 17.52 of this code, Off-Street Parking.)

(Prior code § 9265.3 (F))

A.

All sites shall have a minimum of one-inch service supply line from a one-inch full-flow meter. A standard approved hose valve and a minimum of fifty feet of three-fourth-inch hose with a national standard hose coupling (screw threads) shall be provided. Water sources shall not be more than one hundred feet apart. "No Smoking" signs shall be posted near straw, hay, shavings and other loose combustible materials.

B.

At least one approved-type fire extinguisher shall be maintained in each building or an alternative extinguishing system approved by the fire marshal.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (G))

A.

Except when horses are maintained by grazing, there shall be not less than one enclosed stall of one hundred square feet for each horse kept on the site. The stalls shall have a minimum width of seven feet and minimum overhead clearance of seven feet.

B.

All open stalls must be at least two hundred square feet.

C.

Stables housing ten or more horses shall be provided with at least two exits, each not less than eight feet wide. The exists shall be located a minimum distance apart equal to not less than one-fifth of the perimeter of the stables.

D.

No stall or barn shall be kept or maintained within forty feet of any window or door of any building used for human habitation, nor within forty feet of any portion of a required yard space adjoining property if such property is devoted to a use other than agriculture.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (H))

A.

On each stall, stable, bar, corral or enclosure where horses are kept, there shall be provided and maintained a conspicuous and legible sign giving the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the care of all horses on the site. In addition, each horse will have a legible sign giving the name and address of its owner.

B.

All stallions shall be identified by a sign and warning notice, sufficient to be readily observed from the area surrounding the stall where each stallion is kept.

C.

A current register shall be kept on the premises, listing the name and description of each horse kept on the premises, the name, address and phone number of the owner of each horse or the person to be contacted in any emergency.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (I))

All corrals shall have not less than three hundred square feet of area for the first horse and an additional one hundred square feet for each additional horse.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (J))

No person shall sleep, prepare meals, or conduct other personal living activities in horse stalls or in attached accessory structures.

(Prior code § 9265.3 (K))

All sites where horses are kept shall comply with the following site maintenance standards.

(Prior code § 9265.4 (part))

Sites shall be kept free from accumulations of weeds, litter and unused materials.

(Prior code § 9265.4 (A))

All sites where horses are kept, including exercise areas, corrals and paths shall be prepared and maintained with materials such as wood chips, gravel, oil, turf, chemical compounds or other substances designed for the purpose of adequately controlling dust.

(Prior code § 9265.4 (B))

All structures and fences shall be painted and maintained, except that those materials having sufficient weather-resistant quality may be exempted by approval of the city planner. All metal or sheet metal structures shall be maintained in a rust-free condition.

(Prior code § 9264.4 (C))

A.

All manure must be removed from the premises and disinfectant shall be applied as directed within forty-eight hours after instructions signed by the county health officer in the event fly infestation is detected.

B.

No person shall keep or permit to be kept any manure in any bin or box for a period longer than seven days nor fail, refuse or neglect to clean and disinfect such bin or box when ordered to do so by the health officer.

C.

No person shall keep any manure within one hundred feet of any church, school, hospital or any place where food products are kept, stored or manufactured, or within thirty-five feet of any window or door of any structure used for human occupancy.

(Prior code § 9265.4 (D))