Arapahoe County, CO Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

1, the county's Permitted Use Table in Chapter 3 of the Land Development Code, lists 'Animal hospital and veterinary clinic' as an 'SE' use, Use by Special Exception, in the county's agricultural and residential zone districts (A-E, A-1, RR-A and similar), and as a 'P', permitted by-right, use in the B-1, B-3 and several other non-residential and PUD zone districts. 1 before opening the clinic; a P designation lets the use proceed subject only to the use-specific standards cross-referenced in the table's right-hand column. B, 'Animal Facilities,' within the Chapter 3 use-specific standards for agricultural uses.

1 states directly that animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal day care facilities in the B-1 and B-3 zone districts are not allowed to have outdoor kennels, a flat prohibition that applies even though the underlying clinic use is permitted by-right in those two districts. In practice a veterinary practice in a B-1 or B-3 parcel can open without a hearing, but any dog run, exercise yard or outdoor holding pen for boarded or hospitalized animals must be entirely indoors; a separate 'Kennel' use, listed 'SE' in the same table, is regulated apart from a veterinary clinic's own facilities.

Arapahoe County's Public Works and Development Department, Planning and Land Development Division, administers zoning review and Special Exception applications for unincorporated parcels; this edition of the Land Development Code is dated March 16, 2026.