ITEM 5.2
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8 “ANIMALS” OF
THE UNION CITY MUNICIPAL CODE TO UPDATE
REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO VICIOUS AND
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS
2 Background
• Every person in the City who owns a dog over four-months old is required to obtain a dog license.
• The existing Municipal Code provisions do not have criteria for denying or revoking a license and only requires an application, a rabies vaccine, and the payment of a fee. • The City has the ability under the Municipal to abate vicious dogs and appropriately investigate incidents involving dogs.
3 Background
• Staff has encountered cases in which a dog deemed vicious in another jurisdiction was rehomed in Union City.
• Under the existing Code, staff cannot deny the dog license application based on the dog’s prior history, nor can they impose additional conditions on the ownership of a dog deemed vicious in another jurisdiction.
4 Background
• The City Attorney’s Office prepare an ordinance to amend Title 8 of the Union City Municipal Code as it pertains to the licensure of dogs residing within City limits and as it pertains to vicious and potentially dangerous dogs.
• Staff presented the proposed ordinance to the Legislation and Policy Committee at its meeting on June 1, 2026. The Committee considered the proposed revisions to the Municipal Code and recommended the ordinance be brought to the full City Council.
5 Proposed Ordinance
• The proposed ordinance amends Union City Municipal Code Section 8.08.040 to create a basis for the City to deny a dog license based on previous vicious and/or dangerous behavior including actions in a different jurisdiction. • Additionally, the ordinance amends Chapter 8.14, Abatement of Vicious Dogs, to provide that a dog is deemed vicious if declared vicious in another jurisdiction and authorizes additional requirements for the keeping of a dog that is deemed vicious in lieu of abatement.
6 Recommendation
Staff and the City Attorney recommend that the City Council waive full reading and introduce by title only an ordinance of the City Council of the City Of Union City amending certain sections of Title 8, “Animals” of the Union City Municipal Code to update regulations pertaining to vicious and potentially dangerous dogs