Amarillo, TX Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Amarillo's zoning code lists 'Veterinarian's Office Only (No Hospital)' as a separate land-use classification from 'Animal Clinic, Hospital (Outside Pens), or Kennel' in the Sec. 4-10-82 Schedule of Uses (Type K, Agricultural Type Uses), each carrying its own SIC code and district eligibility. A practice that wants to operate under the lighter 'Office Only' classification must limit itself to outpatient treatment per Sec. ' The moment a practice keeps animals overnight or functions like a hospital, it no longer qualifies as 'Veterinarian's Office Only' and instead falls under the Animal Clinic, Hospital, or Kennel category, SIC 0741/0752, a distinct use with its own approval path since it also captures kennel-type operations.

Using a certificate of occupancy issued for 'Veterinarian's Office Only' to run boarding or overnight care risks a use-classification violation, enforceable under Sec. 4-10-4's zoning penalty. The kennel definition at Sec. 4-10-83(a)(75) reinforces the line: it defines 'Kennel' as any place housing five or more dogs, cats, or a combination over four months old for raising, training, boarding or keeping, but expressly excludes veterinary clinics, animal hospitals and government shelters from that definition. A veterinarian scouting an Amarillo location should confirm before signing a lease whether the site's zoning classification supports 'Office Only' or full hospital use, since the Planning Department classifies new or unlisted uses under Sec.

4-10-84 and the City Council can require a specific use permit under Sec. 4-10-85 for uses marked for that process in the Schedule of Uses.