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

Section 37 of the Everett Zoning Ordinance creates the Everett Docklands Innovation District, called the EDID, added on 10-28-2024 by Ord. No. C0260-24. The EDID has 2 subdistricts, Subdistrict A and Subdistrict B, shown on the Official Zoning Map of the City of Everett. Its use table has six columns: Master Planned Uses, Non-Master Planned Uses Less Than 5,000 sq ft of Gross Floor Area, and Non-Master Planned Uses Greater Than 5,000 sq ft of Gross Floor Area, each split into Sub A and Sub B. The row for "Veterinary or pet grooming establishment" sits under the COMMERCIAL heading and reads Y, Y, SP, SP, SP, SP.

For a Master Plan Development, Y means the Planning Board can, in its discretion, permit the use as part of a Master Plan Special Permit, and the use must be specifically identified and approved in that permit. A use not identified in an approved Master Plan Special Permit is allowed only after that permit is modified. For every other project the row reads SP in both subdistricts and in both size bands, and the ordinance defines SP as a use allowed only if approved by the Special Permit Granting Authority. In the EDID the Planning Board is that authority. No version of this use is allowed by right.

The dimensional table sets a minimum lot size of 5,000 sf, required frontage of 40 ft., a 10 ft. front yard, a 10 ft. side yard, a 20 ft. rear yard and a maximum height of 65 ft for non-master-planned uses. Projects under a Master Plan Special Permit list a 2,000 sf minimum lot, 20 ft of frontage and 0 ft. yard setbacks. The parking table has no veterinary row, and its "All other uses" line leaves the requirement to be determined by the Building Commissioner based on a similar use in the table. Separately, Section 3-1 of the Revised Ordinances defines a "veterinary kennel" as a veterinary hospital or clinic that boards dogs for reasons in addition to medical treatment or care.