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Executive Summary: Proposed Revisions to the SBARC Ordinance <br /> The proposed ordinance introduces key updates to South Bend's animal care and welfare <br /> regulations to improve clarity, align the ordinance with current Animal Resource Center <br /> (SBARC)practices, and strengthen the City's ability to protect public safety and animal welfare. <br /> The revisions address structural reorganization, enhanced regulatory tools, and expanded <br /> permitting and enforcement mechanisms to address gaps in clarity,consistency,and <br /> effectiveness. <br /> Key Changes: <br /> 1. Comprehensive Reorganization of Chapter 5—The ordinance fully restructures <br /> Chapter 5 and organizing it into clear articles addressing general provisions,animal care <br /> standards, species-specific regulations, permitting, enforcement, and administration. This <br /> reorganization improves usability for staff and residents and ensures that related <br /> requirements are grouped logically, reducing confusion and increasing enforceability. <br /> 2. Expanded Animal Care Standards -Minimum care requirements are significantly <br /> expanded and clarified, including standards for shelter, space, veterinary care, and <br /> protection from extreme weather conditions. These provisions provide clearer <br /> benchmarks for determining neglect or mistreatment and improve the City's ability to <br /> take timely and appropriate enforcement action where necessary. These standards are <br /> defined for common domestic animals, as well as for less common animals subject to <br /> permits such as horses, honey bees, chickens, and pigeons. <br /> 3. Expanded Permitting and Licensing Framework-The revisions broaden and <br /> standardize permitting requirements for a range of activities, including breeders,pet <br /> shops, kennels, grooming facilities, animal events, and specialty animal activities. The <br /> updated framework incorporates inspection authority, health and recordkeeping <br /> requirements,and clearer criteria for compliance, strengthening oversight of both <br /> commercial and non-commercial animal-related activities. It also ensures consistency <br /> among permitted and licensed uses, with similar enforcement frameworks applied <br /> throughout the ordinance. <br /> 4. Formal Animal Designation System—The ordinance establishes a clear, tiered <br /> classification system for animals, including Public Nuisance, Dangerous, and Vicious <br /> designations. Each classification includes defined criteria,procedural requirements, and <br /> corresponding restrictions or outcomes. This framework promotes consistency in <br /> enforcement decisions and provides clear expectations for residents. <br /> 5. Regulated Animal Possession Permit(New Enforcement Tool)—A new regulatory <br /> mechanism authorizes the City to require individuals with repeated or high-risk violations <br /> to obtain a Regulated Animal Possession Permit in order to continue owning animals. <br /> This permit may include individualized conditions, such as limits on the number of <br /> animals,required training, or inspections. The approach provides a graduated <br /> enforcement option that focuses on improving compliance while reducing the need for <br /> more severe enforcement measures. It is intended to replace the existing Habitual Animal <br /> Offender designation to focus more on the need to ensure safe and responsible possession <br /> Filed in Clerk's Office <br /> Jul 7, 2026 <br /> Bianca Tirado <br /> City Clerk, South Bend, IN <br />