Cheektowaga, NY Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Section 260-32 of the Zoning Code establishes the CM General Commercial District, and § 260-32A(1)(h) permits several uses, including a small-animal hospital, only if conducted within a completely enclosed building or within an area enclosed by a solid fence or wall. The specific listing at § 260-32A(1)(h)[2] reads 'Small-animal hospital with no outside kennels,' grouped with a limousine service capped at four vehicles under 30 feet, machine or tool sales/rental/service, and custom trade shops as uses that share the enclosure condition. Because the CM District's principal-use list also incorporates every use permitted in the C Retail Business District 'without the requirement for the conduct of business in an enclosed building, except as hereafter provided,' the outside-kennel ban is a specific carve-out the Town applies only to veterinary hospitals, not a general rule for all CM uses.

A veterinarian who wants any outdoor run, exercise yard or boarding area beyond the building envelope would need to seek relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals as a use variance under § 260-76, since outside kennels are excluded from the as-of-right listing rather than merely restricted in size. Site plan approval is still required for any new veterinary hospital under Article VI of the Zoning Code before construction or occupancy.