Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is a little off but here is a quick story I'd like to hear how you got the city to "accept" your rodents or reptiles for real biz.

I am a breeder of rodents here in SLC utah. Out in the suburbs close to agricultural but not zoned that. I breed out of my house. It's tech a 10x12 shed thats fully setup and has 16 breeders and a holder system in totes. In my garage I have another 40 breeder totes for rats and then 16 for mice and soft furs. Then some ten gallon tanks for holding baby's and whatnot. Well In the middle of summer a customer called animal control and said i had sick rats. they came by and said everything was looking good but i would have to get a biz license to continue. I didn't have the garage setup yet. I decided to go in front of the city zoning and they said there was nothing against it, but since there was nothing for it. The answer was NO on the license. So I went underground. All good for a while. I grew more breeders. I went to a local reptile expo. there is another rodent breeder there. Well shortly after the expo animal control got another complaint. Hmmm wonder who. Anyways they just recently came and inspected again and still liked what i was doing but again (second warning) get a biz license.

here is where it gets fun. I go talk to zoning again. still no. I go with affidavits from my surrounding neighbors saying that they were ok with my rodents. got pictures of all my property showing that id looked like a normal house from the outside. Had animal control talk to them saying they had no problems with me. Had pictures of all my setup showing it was professional. The main person in zoning said there was no problems but legally since there was nothing on the books about what i am doing (after I convinced her it wasn't a kennel) the answer was no. I now am going to go in front of the city council and plead my case for a home occupation license and zoning hearing.

The few here that do it legal out of there house are few and far. One guy sunset reptiles is cleared through another city to have his snakes and breed just enough to feed said reptiles. And if there is any real issues with smell or escape he is out. Reptile rescue local seven years ago had to raise hell with them to get his permit in the same city. The competition is in rural and may even be zoned agriculture. but that city had no real prob. as long as all the neighbors didn't care. Jeremy stone (big ball python breeder out of provoish) has a high dollar commercial building but is not permitted to breed his own feeders so he HAS TO BUY OUTSIDE RODENTS.

Why is there such stigma about rats and mice? (don't answer I know) What did you do to convince the city that it's all good to have and or breed rodents?

Most cities don't specify the animal for breeder license or animal production. Since Poultry, Dogs, Cats etc. are all animals they usually are just vague. I'm assuming since you seam to have read the law, that your area is specific on animal production laws.

If not do so.

Another thought is how to get around the law legally. Like you mentioned another vendor gets buy with production limited to self consumption.

Who else does so, Pet Stores, they also sell surplus. I would look into a business license for a pet store or pet retailer. Most likely your production is not inbreed therefore they would make great pets. What your customers do with the animal is none of your concern. California is a different story.

The stigma with rodents are concerns of feral animals that escape. Here escape animals don't fair well as the harsh winters usually destroy the domestic mouse and rat when exposed to the elements. That's the concern though that they will adapt and over come adversity.

Good Luck

BTW I am not a legal breeder either.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

some of the cities i've lived in weren't so much concerned with what licence so much as you just having a licence. try a diferent term like pet supply, if you ship you could try a mail order business. your city should have alist of licences find one close and try it

yea i tried reptile food and they saw through that. Um yea i am sure escape is a big issue so in my personal stipulations i am running by the city it says that i must have active traps. Also the pet store idea wouldn't fly out of the home. I also put stipulations that no animal can exceed 5 lbs. That's a BIG rat
I just found out that jeremy stone has farmers right around him so of course there paranoid of rats getting loose.

??? there are no wild rats or house mice where you live?...
they actually inhabit most of the world...just asking...???

here they are everywhere.....even in my yard...you don't see them but they are there....for sure....(along with voles/meadow mice...and Peromyscus mice)....
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......your city sucks......

.....my township said I cannot have wild or exotic animals (outside) just "pet shop type animals"....they must not think pet shops sell wierd stuff....hmmm./////...I CAN have a pot belly pig....I asked why 2 pair of little bitty ducks or pheasants is no but a big stinky pig is yes...duh....

also said stuff like pigeons ok but only 3 over 6 months of age...who has 3 pigeons?...my neighbor has like 100 or more...and chickens and geese or ducks at times...I didn't squeel on him he may be grandfathered in anyways....

when I said my neighbors won't mind like birds...they said...it doesn't matter what your neighbors think....it's up to them....

......so someday I just may get's me a pig....just to be mean.....!!!

hahahaaaaa...

......as mentioned ,go and read ALL the animal laws in your area...

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..J Yohe ....49 in 20 days ! wow...

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