Brockton, MA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Brockton's Zoning Ordinance does not allow a veterinarian's office, animal hospital or pet shop as a matter of right in any district. Section 27-29(3)(e) places all three uses on the list of special uses permitted in the C-2 general commercial zone, alongside gasoline stations, adult day care facilities, drive-in theaters and drive-through restaurants. The same list closes with a condition unique to this group of uses: before the use begins, the building department 'shall perform an inspection to ensure compliance with state regulations or any condition imposed by the Zoning Board of Appeals.'

To get there, an applicant files with the Board of Appeals under § 27-49, which must hold a public hearing within sixty-five days of the filing and can grant the permit without any finding of hardship. The board may attach conditions covering larger-than-minimum yards, screening of parking areas, limits on hours or number of animals boarded, access-drive design, added off-street parking, and sign regulation. Under § 27-37, the board must also find that the use will be in harmony with the C-2 zone's orderly development, won't harm the surrounding neighborhood, and provides adequate ingress and egress so parking does not spill onto abutting streets. Applications carry a $160 commercial filing fee under § 27-50, plus a $25 use-determination fee if the applicant first needs to confirm the lot's zoning classification. A granted special permit lapses within one year if the veterinary practice or pet shop has not substantially begun operating, unless the board finds good cause for the delay.