Chatsworth, CA:
Did you know that by licensing your horse in the City of Los Angeles, you are helping to make a count against developers trying to gain access to lands that we use for trail riding, and prevent utility companies (DWP) from obtaining permits to build? For $35, you can get a 5 year license for your horse.
I used to be strongly opposed to licensing my horse, as I just saw it as another way for "big brother" to have their nose in my business and to take more money...however, in the big scheme of things, $35 for 5 years is insignificant dollar wise, and a HUGE significance in the count to keep our hills. We are going to have a clinic to register our horses coming up in the near future. I will keep you apprised. Im pretty sure that although I only own 1 horse out here, I will register 10 horses, even the horses living in Simi (maybe even some "ghost" horses), as Los Angeles horse residents. Seems like such a low price to pay to keep the trails in which we treasure greatly and rely on heavily as my sacred grounds where we can train in, as well as roam freely and in peace on the back of our horses. Are you in LA, and if so, is your horse registered? How do you feel about this? Please discuss. Please share with your LA horse friends. MAKE YOUR HORSE(S) COUNT!!
Horse owners need to be aware they could lose the right to keep horses on their property if a horse is not properly licensed.
(A note from my friend Jerry England)
Los Angeles zoning code for residential-agricultural properties (A1, A2, RA1, RE20, and RE40) states that equines being boarded or kept on private property shall be issued a current 'Equine License' issued by the Los Angeles City Department of Animal Regulation.
If you have not kept your horse properly licensed, and your neighbor obtains a building permit for a new dwelling that makes the distance requirement between their new dwelling and your horse stable illegal, you could be forced to move.
The zoning code allows your lot to be a designated horse-keeping lot if you have an 'Equine License' to stable at least one licensed equine during the 12 months prior to the issuance of the building permit for the residential building on an adjacent lot. Your lot becomes a nonconforming equine use if, during a successive 3-year period, no equine is licensed by the Department of Animal Regulation.
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 53.15.1 states any person owning or having custody of any horse, pony, burro, mule, donkey, or other equine 12 months of age or older shall pay for the privilege of keeping such equine with a license fee of $14.00 per year.
In addition zoning for horse-keeping property is predicated on how many licensed horses are kept on private property or boarded in the area. If the city doesn't know about your horse it can't be included in an overall plan for equine zoning. In areas like Chatsworth so much of our riding area is falling prey to developers, so it is imperative that we have all our horses counted. Please take the time to license your horse today by contacting the City Department of Animal Regulation.
WEST VALLEY(888)-452-7381 Ext. 146
EAST VALLEY(888)-452-7381 Ext. 145
