The Knoxville City Council recently voted in favor of amending a city ordinance to limit the number of monkeys allowed in a household. The amendment was made to a longstanding rule that limited the number of cats or dogs a resident may keep to four.
The proposed ordinance change was sparked by Knoxville resident Jamie Fuller, who is U.S. Department of Agriculture licensed and legally keeps 30 pet monkeys in her home and backyard.
Fuller cares for capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys and squirrel monkeys, most of which are rescues or rehomes.
Some Knoxville residents seemed shocked to hear about the city's animal limit ordinance, with many social media users saying they had no idea there was a limit to the number of pets they were allowed to have.
"Knoxvillians
can only own 4 pets??," one commenter wrote.
Another said, "Will there also be limits on pet reptiles, birds, chickens, insects, rodents, fish, etc.?"
"I had no idea Knoxville had an ordinance limiting the number of cats and dogs to 4. That seems unenforceable," one commenter wrote.
Others said the city's pet ordinance would deter them from moving to Knoxville entirely.
"If a total of 4 cats and/or dogs is an actual ordinance in Knoxville, I would NEVER consider living there and if I did, I'd MOVE! There are plenty of people who have the time and money to take care of more than 4 pets. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Think of all the animals that need a loving home who will never find one. Shame on Knoxville!" a Facebook user wrote.
To help clear up any confusion, here's what Knoxville's pet ordinance actually says.
What is Knoxville's pet ordinance?
Chapter 5 of Knoxville's Code of Ordinances outlines pet and animal regulations.
Knoxville residents are limited to any combination of four cats or dogs in their home, according to Chapter 5, Section 27 of the Code of Ordinances. Two dogs and two cats? Totally fine. Three cats and one dog? Also, OK. Four cats and one dog? Close but no cigar.
No resident is allowed to keep more than four dogs or cats over six months old. Animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and higher education establishments are some of the exceptions to this ordinance. Proper permits are still required for exceptions to Section 5-27.
Pet boarding facilities, kennels, pet dealers, and pet shops are also exceptions to the limit, according to Chapter 5, Section 29, but they must have a permit from the animal control board.
With the exception of baboons, chimpanzees, drills, gelada baboons, gibbons, gorillas, mandrills and siamangs, primates are legal to keep in the state and Knoxville, the city's current code of ordinances does not say anything about monkeys.
The proposal would change 5-27 to limit monkeys to four per household just as cats and dogs are.
What about animals other than cats or dogs?
The city ordinances do not outline any limits or regulations on other common pets such as fish, bunnies, hamsters, or birds, which are all considered legal pets under state law.
If zoning laws allow and residents have permits from the animal shelter, farm animals including cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are legal. The city ordinances do not place a limit on these animals; they simply must be properly permitted, according to Chapter 5, Section 101.
If zoning laws do not permit farm animals and a Knoxvillian wants to keep some in a residential zone, the resident can petition the animal shelter for a permit.
Owners of the above animals are subject to inspections from the animal shelter or county health department. The animal shelter has the ability to revoke permits if animals are not kept according to proper standards.
While other farm animals do not have a limit, the number of chickens allowed is limited, according to Chapter 5, Section 107. Residents are not allowed to have more than six chickens, and they must all be hens. Chickens are limited by lot, so a duplex with one yard would still only be eligible for a permit allowing six hens.
Afton Pratt covers trending news for The Knoxville News Sentinel and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville limits residents to four cats or dogs? What the ordinance says
