Bensalem, PA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Bensalem's Zoning Code treats a veterinary practice differently depending on the district. In the R-AA district, an agricultural zone built around large lots and farmland preservation, section 232-212(a)(5)a lets a veterinarian's office with an accessory kennel operate only after the Zoning Hearing Board grants a special exception, and it singles out the animal-holding parts of the use for a stricter standard: any kennel or dog run housing more than two dogs, plus any stable or other accessory building serving rural animals, must sit at least 50 feet from every property line, not just the street line.

Inside the Historic Resources Overlay, which only applies where a property owner has opted in and recorded a deed restriction under section 232-348, section 232-349(8) instead lists 'small animal veterinarians' among the professional office uses a historic building may house alongside physicians, dentists, architects and similar professionals, provided the practice doesn't involve storing or selling merchandise on-site and parking conforms to the township's general off-street parking table at section 232-586. Outside these two named treatments, a veterinary office in most of the township's commercial and general-commercial districts is evaluated under the applicable district's own permitted or special-exception use list rather than a dedicated veterinary provision, so an applicant needs to check the specific district first.

The Zoning Officer administers all of these paths through the same use-permit process under sections 232-762 through 232-764, and the Zoning Hearing Board conducts the special-exception hearing under section 232-781, weighing effects on neighboring property and the character of the district before granting approval.