Bothell, WA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

The use table in BMC § 12.06.050 sorts animal-care businesses in the City of Bothell by zone. Veterinary clinics carry a P in the OP, NB, CB, GC and LI columns and a dash, meaning use not permitted, in R-C, R-L1 and RL2, RM1 through RM3, R-M4, R-MHP and R-AC. Animal shelters follow the same pattern. Kennels, catteries and animal obedience schools are conditional (C) in R-C, permitted in CB, GC and LI, and not permitted in the other columns, including OP and NB. Each of these uses carries note (1), which points to the use-specific conditions in subsection B.

Those conditions are concrete. The portion of the building or structure in which animals are treated, trained or kept shall be soundproofed. All run areas shall be surrounded by an eight-foot-high solid wall surfaced with concrete or other permanent impervious material, and the wall is placed consistent with the setback requirements of the underlying zone. The outside of the wall must be screened with evergreen plantings that are six feet tall upon planting and reach a height of eight feet within five years.

The same condition ties daily operations to Title 6 of the code: kennels, catteries, animal obedience schools, animal shelters and veterinary clinics shall be operated in accordance with BMC Title 6, Animals. Animal shelters owned, maintained or operated by a public body, an established humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization whose primary mission is the protection and welfare of animals can sell goods and products that enhance the health and comfort of the animals adopted.

Because BMC § 11.20.002 applies the enforcement chapter to Title 12, the community development director investigates and enforces these conditions under BMC § 11.20.004. A clinic planning to locate in the City of Bothell therefore checks its zone column first, then the soundproofing, run wall and screening standards, and then the Title 6 operating rules.