S. Jordan upholds rule for now: 2 pets per species per house

SOUTH JORDAN — The city ordinance allowing two pets per species will be upheld, though South Jordan officials plan to study ways for people to apply to legally have a third dog, the City Council decided Tuesday.

The action, which continues to put residents who own three or more pets out of compliance with city code, was approved 4 to 1 with Councilwoman Aleta Taylor dissenting.

South Jordan Mayor Kent Money said he feels there are certain circumstances to have a third pet and directed city staff to study ways in which a resident could apply to legally have a third animal.

"To me, it boils down to a nuisance factor," Money said. "Some people can take care of three dogs and you would never know they have three dogs."

Council members and city employees said they believe thousands of South Jordan residents have more than two animals of each species — which under city code is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,850 fine and/or six months in jail. They also believe 80 percent of the city's dog owners don't have the required license, which carries an additional fine of around $35. It costs $10 for a dog license, which requires proof of rabies shot.

Previous to Tuesday's council decision, according to the city zoning ordinance, a resident would have to approach the Planning Commission and apply for a conditional-use permit in order to have a third dog. This permission, of which 19 residents have requested and received in the past decade, was attached to the land and passed on to the new landowners upon sale.

South Jordan resident Steve Bulkley said he believes it's more than a numbers game.

"When I mow my lawn and find a surprise, I don't care if that person has two, three or five dogs. I'm cleaning up a mess," Bulkey said. "Let's think beyond the numbers and start to think about personal responsibility."

The council also Tuesday revised its list of prohibited non-domesticated animals, including alligators, bears, weasels, mink, wild cats such as cougars, wild dogs such as dingos, monkeys and skunks, as well as venomous snakes, lizards and fish.

The impetus for Tuesday's hourlong animal ordinance discussion is city officials learned several areas in South Jordan were in a zone that didn't allow pets at all, according to old ordinances. Daybreak neighborhood is one of those places that was in violation of the city code.

The Daybreak homeowners association discovered the glitch last year, said Paul Cunningham, South Jordan government services director.

"It's a mismatch between our ordinance and their rules," Cunningham said.

Rather than cite every pet owner in the Daybreak area, the city simply decided to fix the technical glitch by removing the erroneous wording from the zoning ordinance — which they did Tuesday.

Daybreak HOA board member Rulon Dutson, manager of land planning for Kennecott Land, said action began with the city "as soon as the inconsistency was brought up."

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