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Clark County, IN Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Classification
Special Use #6
Approval body
Board of Zoning Appeals
Notice required
Certified mail, 10 days
Conditions allowed
Parking, screening, yards, time limits
Lapses
If unused within 1 year
Penalty
Up to $2,500 per day

Summary

Clark County treats animal hospitals and kennels as a special use, Table S.U. item #6, meaning a site needs Board of Zoning Appeals approval on top of its base zoning before a vet clinic or kennel can open in unincorporated Clark County, under Code § 156.48(F).

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Clark County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(F) Limitations on special uses. Only those special uses that are indicated on Table S.U., following this section, shall be permitted in the zoning districts indicated by the table. ... List of Special Use Designations ... Animal hospitals and kennels 6

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2019 S-0: Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 31-2014, passed 12-18-2014).

Full Breakdown

are permitted, and only in the zoning districts the table allows; "Animal hospitals and kennels" is listed as Special Use #6. That means the use is never allowed simply because the underlying district is, say, agricultural or general business; it requires its own BZA sign-off. 48(C) requires the operator to file an application and site plan with the Plan Commission office, showing building and structure locations, access drives, parking, and required buffer landscaping. C. , with ten days' notice by certified mail to abutting property owners, and decides based on site appropriateness, effect on the surrounding area, nuisance or hazard risk to people and vehicles, adequacy of facilities, harmony with the County Plan, and public convenience and welfare.

48(C)(3), the BZA can attach conditions such as larger yards, added parking or screening, modified exterior design, lot-coverage limits, or a time limit. 48(D)(1) voids it if the use is abandoned for a year or never established within a year of approval, and (D)(2) bars converting it to any use other than the one approved.

Violations & Fines

Operating an animal hospital or kennel without the Special Use #6 designation, or in violation of BZA-imposed conditions, is a Chapter 156 violation. The Plan Commission can pursue a civil penalty up to $2,500 under § 156.99(A), with each day of continued violation a separate offense under § 156.99(B), and may seek an injunction to halt the operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a veterinary clinic or kennel anywhere in unincorporated Clark County?
No, animal hospitals and kennels are Special Use #6 under § 156.48(F), so the site must carry that special-use designation from the Board of Zoning Appeals in addition to its base zoning.
What does the BZA look at before approving an animal hospital or kennel?
Site appropriateness, effect on the surrounding area, nuisance or hazard risk to people and vehicles, adequacy of facilities, harmony with the County Plan, and public convenience, per § 156.48(C)(2)(a).
Can the county attach conditions to a kennel's special-use approval?
Yes, § 156.48(C)(3) lets the BZA require larger yards, added parking or screening, modified exterior design, lot-coverage limits, sign restrictions, or a time limit on the approval.
Does a special-use approval for a kennel expire?
Yes, § 156.48(D)(1) voids the special use if it is abandoned for a year or never established within a year of being granted.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Clark County

All Clark County rules

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