Appellate Court Holds That Property Owner Had No Right to Keep Tigers at Her Home

In Hauser v. Ventura County Board of Supervisors, Hauser applied for a conditional use permit to allow her to keep five (5) tigers on her nineteen (19) acre property.  The County rejected that application finding that allowing the tigers would be unsafe to the community.  Hauser’s property was located within a half mile of fifty-seven (57) residential lots, twenty-eight (28) of which had residences on them.  There were forty-six (46) homes within a mile of the property and two (2) children’s camps within two (2) to three (3) miles of the project.  Hauser argued that she took safety precautions, including an eight (8) day class on animal husbandry, safety and training.  However, the County found that the class did not give Hauser any specific credentials as Hauser was guaranteed a certificate and there was no particular testing nor measurement of competency.  Hauser sued Ventura County.  The Court found in favor of the County.  The Court of Appeal affirmed holding that there was substantial evidence supporting the County’s denial of Hauser’s application.

Shannon B. Jones, Partner sbj@sbj-law.com