Birds and bees permitted without charge in Ukiah backyards after council eases rules

The Ukiah City Council has given final approval to an ordinance that will allow residents to have animals like hens and rabbits on their properties without paying a fee and going through a Planning Commission review.

At its Sept. 3 meeting, the Ukiah City Council unanimously passed a proposal that will streamline the process for city residents to have hens, rabbits or beehives on their properties. The council gave initial approval to the ordinance last month.

Under previous city code, residents who want to have any number of hens, rabbits or beehives had to apply for a minor use permit from the city. A resident needed to have their application reviewed by Planning Department staff and the director, submit a public notice, attend a hearing and pay a $1,000 fee.

According to a report from city staff, the ordinance will allow residents to have backyard animals like hens and rabbits and to maintain beehives as long as they comply with what the city calls performance standards and will not have to apply for a minor use permit.

Some of the standards involve a maximum number of animals depending on the size of the property — six hens or rabbits per parcel of 40,000 square feet or less — and ensure that the animals are not treated inhumanely and do not make noise that negatively impacts nearby residences.

Under the approved ordinance, those that go beyond those standards will have to apply for an administrative use permit, a newly created license that city officials say will be a simpler process than the minor use permit.

For a resident to receive an administrative use permit, they will have to submit an application to the city’s Community Development Department director and pay an application fee. The applicant will not be subjected to a Planning Commission review, public notice or hearing.

The administrative use permit fee will be far less than the current $1,000 cost for a minor use permit, according to Craig Schlatter, the city’s community development director. During last week’s meeting, the City Council approved the administrative use permit fee to be $350. The updated ordinance and adjusted fee will take effect Oct. 3.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 5:15 p.m. at the Ukiah Civic Center at 300 Seminary Ave. Residents can also participate virtually via a Zoom link at the top of the agenda. Public comments can be emailed to meetings@cityofukiah.com or called in at (707) 463-6217.