Animal Ordinance

2023: Animal Ordinance Amendments Related to Beekeeping

  • March 7, 2023:  Fremont City Council adopted amendments to the Title 6 Animal Ordinance. The revised ordinance goes into effect on April 6, 2023.

    • The amendments to Title 6 largely align with public interest in reducing impediments to urban beekeepers by reducing the City’s oversight and enforcement role.  The most significant elements of the newly proposed language are summarized as follows:
      •    Eliminate the requirement that beekeepers obtain a permit from the City of Fremont;
      •    Eliminate the limit on the number of beehives that an individual may maintain;  
      •    Allow beehives on multi-family balconies or patios;
      •    Reduce restrictions surrounding bee-hive placement so long as 5 feet of distance from adjacent property lines is maintained;
      •    Simplify and/or eliminate beekeeping procedural language; and
      •    Reduce City staff’s role in enforcement and compliance.

    • The adopted ordinance can be viewed here. The Fremont Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) will be updated to reflect these changes on April 6, 2023.

  • January 18, 2023: Animal Services Community Meeting 

2022: Council Adopts Animal Ordinance Amendments to Title 6

  • On October 4, 2022, the Fremont City Council adopted amendments to the Title 6 Animal Ordinance. The revised ordinance went into effect on, November 3, 2022.
     
    The amendments to Title 6, clarify animal limitations for chickens and permit goat ownership in areas zoned residential. Shelter and shelter maintenance requirements for chickens and goats have been defined and clarified for residential areas to ensure the safety of the animals and to reduce any nuisance conditions to the surrounding community.
     
    Amendments also include changes to stay current with changes in state law since the last Animals Ordinance amendments in 2018. The amendments incorporate changes to the antirabies vaccination age for dogs from four months in age to three months of age in alignment with California Health and Safety Code.
     
    Additional amendments help enhance service for more community members. A new amendment gives the animal services manager discretion to waive redemption costs in cases of financial hardship if the fees would impose an economic hardship for the owner. The final amendment remedies an inconsistency between animal regulations regarding dog leash length in Title 6 Animals and Chapter 12.20 regarding parks. Title 6 will now align with FMC section 12.20.100, requiring dogs to be on a leash not to exceed six feet in parks and recreation areas.
     
    The adopted ordinance can be viewed at: http://tricityanimalshelter.org/DocumentCenter/View/338/Animal-Ordinance-Nov-2022?bidId=
     
    The Fremont Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) will be updated to reflect these changes.
     
    For questions, please contact AnimalServices@fremont.gov.

  • At the September 20, 2022 Fremont City Council Meeting, the Council passed amendments to Title 6 Animals. Amendments for urban farming will permit goats in residential areas under certain circumstances, expand ownership of beehives, and clarify and update the chicken ownership ordinance. Also included in the amendments is a reduction in the length of stay for impounded animals, animal services manager discretion to waive impound fees for residents experiencing financial hardship, alignment of dog leash length in public parks with the ordinance for Parks and Recreation, and alignment of the City’s ordinance with recent state law changes for canine anti-rabies vaccination.
  • Adoption of Ordinance #10-2022
  • View the staff report
  • Summary and FAQs: Amendments to the Animal Ordinance

2022 Community Meeting on Animal Ordinance