SD Food Policy Action Network
Animal Husbandry - Especially Domestic Fowl & Urban Beekeeping
"Animal Husbandry is a use where animals are reared or kept in order to sell the animals or their products, such as meat, fur or eggs, but does not include pet daycare centers or animal shelters and kennels." -- Seattle Urban Ag Policy
One in Ten pursues regional food policy changes that will encourge San Diegans to produce food locally and use our resources more wisely for a sustainable future. Many of our policies fail to do this, because they have not been updated. Read further to envision with us and enact policy that supports urban animal husbandry.
photo credit: Andrew Buchanan/SLP of Subtle Light Photography
One in Ten pursues regional food policy changes that will encourge San Diegans to produce food locally and use our resources more wisely for a sustainable future. Many of our policies fail to do this, because they have not been updated. Read further to envision with us and enact policy that supports urban animal husbandry.
photo credit: Andrew Buchanan/SLP of Subtle Light Photography
City Chickens (Roosters prohibited, of course)
City Chickens are an important part of urban food security. They provide a fresh, local source of protein and are an important contributor to the garden ecosystem. Right now, the City of San Diego Municipal Code restricts chickens to less dense neighborhoods—requiring that coops be at least 50 ft. from any living dwelling.
Proposal: we recommend following the models of the cities of Seattle, Washington or Madison, Wisconsin, where regulations are based on a total number of hens per lot.
"Up to eight domestic fowl may be kept on any lot in addition to the small animals allowed. On lots greater than 10,000 sf. ft. that include either a community garden or an urban farm, one additional fowl is permitted for every 1,000 sf. ft. of lot area over 10,000 sf. ft. in community garden or urban farm use. Roosters are not permitted. Structures housing domestic fowl must be located at least 10 feet away from any residential structureon an adjacent lot." -- Seattle Urban Ag Policy
Proposal: we recommend following the models of the cities of Seattle, Washington or Madison, Wisconsin, where regulations are based on a total number of hens per lot.
"Up to eight domestic fowl may be kept on any lot in addition to the small animals allowed. On lots greater than 10,000 sf. ft. that include either a community garden or an urban farm, one additional fowl is permitted for every 1,000 sf. ft. of lot area over 10,000 sf. ft. in community garden or urban farm use. Roosters are not permitted. Structures housing domestic fowl must be located at least 10 feet away from any residential structureon an adjacent lot." -- Seattle Urban Ag Policy
City Bees
Backyard beekeeping is not allowed within 600 feet from a dwelling in San Diego. Furthermore there is no training for the care and understanding of beekeeping.
Proposal: We would like to see policies that are not de facto prohibitions but rather are based on more sensible restrictions of the number of colonies and distance from dwellings. We also would like to see training by a third party organization.
See the City of Seattle's Urban Ag Policy: "Bees are allowed outright when registered with the State Department of Agriculture. No more than four hives, each with only one swarm, are allowed on lots less than 10,000 sf. ft. Hives may not be located within 25 feet of any lot line, except when hives are 8 feet or more above or below the grade immediately adjacent to the lot on which they are located."
Proposal: We would like to see policies that are not de facto prohibitions but rather are based on more sensible restrictions of the number of colonies and distance from dwellings. We also would like to see training by a third party organization.
See the City of Seattle's Urban Ag Policy: "Bees are allowed outright when registered with the State Department of Agriculture. No more than four hives, each with only one swarm, are allowed on lots less than 10,000 sf. ft. Hives may not be located within 25 feet of any lot line, except when hives are 8 feet or more above or below the grade immediately adjacent to the lot on which they are located."
