Big Bear Lake planning commission backs citywide code amendment tightening animal rules, bans roosters in most residential zones

The City of Big Bear Lake Planning Commission on Aug. 20 voted 5-0 to recommend the City Council approve Development Code Amendment 2025-28, a citywide text change that clarifies which domesticated animals are permitted in residential zones, establishes setback and water-well separation requirements, raises the minimum lot size for horses in R-1 to three-quarters of an acre, and allows limited indoor animal boarding in some commercial zones while prohibiting animal breeding.

Community Development Director Andrew Mellon, presenting the staff report, described the package as a cleanup and clarification of ambiguous sections of Title 17. "Before us today is a development code amendment 2025-28. It is a citywide development code amendment and it's in relation to animals and associated land uses," Mellon said. He told the commission the code changes respond to recurring questions from residents and changes in how some animals are classified since the code was last updated.

Staff said the amendment has three main components: (1) revisions to the residential land-use table (Table 17.25.040a in the staff report) to list permitted small domesticated animals (examples in the staff report include pot-bellied pigs, pygmy goats, hens, rabbits and…