Politics & Government

Proposed Fees for Backyard Chickens, Bees, Goats, Pigs

Before the El Cerrito City Council tonight, Monday, are fees proposed by staff for the new city law making it easier to keep some backyard farm animals and bees. They range from $75 for chickens to $584 for goats or pigs.

Those who take advantage of El Cerrito's making it easier to keep some farm animals and bees will need permits, whose proposed cost are on the City Council agenda tonight, Monday.

Chickens

City staff is proposing a range of fees, beginning with $75 to keep chickens. Under the law, which takes effect in April, property owners on lots of at least 4,000 square feet could have four hens if the coop is kept 20 feet from homes on adjacent properties. No roosters allowed.

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Those with smaller lots could also keep up to four hens and coops could be closer than 20 feet to neighboring homes, with written consent of directly adjacent neighbors. It would cost an extra $25 for a chicken permit requiring neighbor consent.

That's still cheaper than Albany, which $165 to keep chickens under the same conditions, according to the El Cerrity city staff report prepared for tonight's council meeting. (A copy of the report is attached.)

Find out what's happening in El Cerritowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bees

The basic permit for bees would be $90. The law permits two beehives on lots of at least 5,000 square feet, located at least five feet from the property line and 20 feet from homes on adjacent property. With unanimous consent of neighbors and an extra $25 fee, smaller lots could have one beehive and distance requirements could be waived.

Pigs and Goats

The new also allows one pig weighing less 150 pounds (pot-bellied pig) on lots of at least 5,000 square feet, and an indeterminate number of goats on lots of at least 10,000 square feet. Those who wish to have goats or pigs will need a stricter, administrative use permit requiring a site visit by staff and discretionary approval by the Zoning Administrator. The proposed fee is $584.

The new law also has a special category for temporary keeping of one goat – on lots of at least 7,500 square feet up to two months a year – for weed control. A "Goat Weed Abatement Permit" would be $75.

The staff report said the fees are based on analysis of anticipated staff work and expenses, as well as similar permits in El Cerrito and other cities.

Here is table of proposed animal-permit fees from the staff report:

Permit Fee Residential Chicken Clearance $75 Honeybee Keeping Clearance $90 Goat Weed Abatement Permit $75 Unanimous Neighbor Consent Exception $25 Administrative Use Permit for Animals $584

For more background on this topic, you can see our past stories by clicking "El Cerrito Animals Ordinance" next to Related Topics below this article. For alerts on future stories on the issue, click the "Keep me posted" button below the article.


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