Aurora, CO Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential districts
- Not permitted at all
- OA-MS, OA-G, Core, Edge, MU-R
- Conditional-use approval required
- MU-OI, MU-C, MU-A, AD, I-1, I-2
- Permitted by-right
- Governing table
- UDO Table 3.2-1, Art. 146-3
- UDO current through
- Ord. 2026-03 (Feb 23, 2026)
Summary
Aurora, Colorado's UDO bars veterinary clinics and hospitals from every residential zone district and requires conditional-use approval in most mixed-use/overlay districts, while allowing them by-right only in MU-OI, MU-C, MU-A, AD, I-1 and I-2.
Veterinary Clinic and Hospital. Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals. All facilities for housing animals shall be only for use incidental to medical treatment. [...] | Land | R-R | A&B | C | A&B | C | R-3 | R-4 | R-MH | A&B | C | MU-OI | MU-C | OA-R1 | OA-R2 | OA-RMU | OA-MS | OA-G | MU-FB | Core | Edge | MU-R | MU-A | AD | APZ | I-1 | I-2 | POS | USE | [...] | Veterinary | | | | | | | | | C | C | P | P | | | | C | C | C | C | C | C | P | P | | P | P | | |
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Table 3.2-1 (Permitted Use Table) in UDO Article 146-3 leaves every residential zone (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-MH) blank for "Veterinary Clinic and Hospital," meaning the use is not allowed there at all. It's marked "C" (conditional-use approval required) in the older Original Aurora subdistricts and in OA-MS, OA-G, MU-FB, Core, Edge and MU-R, and "P" (by-right) only in MU-OI, MU-C, MU-A, AD, I-1 and I-2. The UDO defines the use as a licensed veterinarian's establishment where animal housing is incidental to medical treatment only: a narrower category than a kennel, which is separately regulated under Section 3.3.4.C.
Violations & Fines
Opening or operating a veterinary clinic in a zone district left blank in Table 3.2-1, or without obtaining the required conditional-use approval where the table marks a "C," is a UDO violation and can trigger code enforcement action forcing relocation or closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a veterinary clinic in a residential neighborhood in Aurora, CO?
Does a vet clinic need special approval anywhere it's allowed?
Where can a veterinary clinic open by-right in Aurora?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
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