Supervisors kill horse-ownership code

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to eliminate a code that required certain Newport Beach residents to acquire a permit if they own three to six horses for non-commercial use.

The vote comes several months after a letter was accidentally sent to Santa Ana Heights residents in May warning them that the horse permitting might soon be enforced.

Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach said the permit code, which rolled over from when the area was unincorporated, was inconsistent with city policy that limits the number of horses one can own to six.

The vote serves largely to reduce unnecessary burden, he said.

“It kind of extracts government bureaucracy out of the lives of these people,” Moorlach said.

The decision to eliminate the code will return to city officials for review, but Mayor Keith Curry said he agrees with the supervisors’ move.

The more permissive policy on horse ownership has been in place for at least several years, he said.

“Now the county is just cleaning up its paperwork on the same issue,” the mayor said. “We’re not going to require horse permits.”