Ukiah City Council will consider easier permits for backyard animals and bees

UKIAH, CA., 8/19/25 — The Ukiah City Council on Wednesday will consider approving an ordinance that would allow residents to keep certain animals on their properties without going through a Planning Commission review, a public notice, and a hearing.

According to the proposed ordinance’s staff report, the city’s Community Development Department is proposing a policy that would allow all city residents to keep backyard animals such as hens and rabbits, and maintain beehives, provided they comply with city standards.

Currently, residents must go through an arduous application process to obtain a minor use permit, the permit required to have backyard animals. To obtain a minor use permit, a resident must have their application reviewed by the Planning Department staff and the director, submit a public notice, have a hearing and pay a fee of $1,000.

The city of Ukiah mandates that residents follow specific performance standards under the Ukiah City Code to have rabbits and hens. Some of those standards include ensuring the animals are not treated inhumanely and do not make noise that negatively impacts nearby residences, along with other requirements.

The proposed ordinance states that if a resident wants to deviate from the performance standards or keep more animals or bees than the city currently allows, that person would need to apply for an administrative use permit, a simpler application than the minor use permit. 

For example, if a resident wants rabbits, hens or bees, and wishes to increase the number of animals on their property, they will need to apply for the administrative use permit under the proposed ordinance. For this permit, residents would be required to submit the application to Ukiah’s community development director. 

The application would be reviewed solely by Planning Department staff and the director, with no hearing required and no $1,000 fee. The administrative use permit would be a less complicated and cheaper process.

If the Ukiah City Council passes the ordinance, it would reduce barriers for city residents who want small animals such as rabbits and hens, as well as bees.  

The idea of an administrative use permit was first proposed by Craig Schlatter, the city’s community development director. According to the proposed ordinance’s staff report, the main goal is “to explore reducing regulation and increasing certainty within the development process citywide.” 

“Additionally, in recent years, and continuing into 2025, the city has seen growing public interest in small-scale, neighborhood-serving agricultural uses such as backyard chickens, beekeeping, and community gardens. These uses are generally compatible with residential areas but have often required a minor use permit when a proposal involves even small deviations from adopted standards,” the report states.  

Roosters, turkeys, ducks, geese and swine would remain prohibited except in specific agricultural zones and would require a separate permit.  

The City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 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. The agenda is available online at https://ukiahca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2128/files/agenda/5445. Public comments can be emailed to meetings@cityofukiah.com or called in at (707) 463-6217.