Glendale, CA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning status
- Permitted (P) use, no CUP required
- Overnight care
- Allowed under definition (not a kennel)
- Kennel threshold avoided
- 4+ dogs/cats (§30.70.120) excludes vet offices
- Governing sections
- GMC §§ 30.12.020, 30.70.230
Summary
Glendale zones veterinary offices, including hospitalization services, as a permitted use in the city's commercial districts under Table 30.12-A of Municipal Code § 30.12.020, so a vet clinic does not need a conditional use permit to open in a zone that lists a P for the use. Chapter 30.70 defines the use as a state-licensed medical facility for household pets that may include overnight animal care.
"Veterinary offices, including hospitalization services" means a medical facility licensed by the state department of public health for the treatment of household pets. The use may include the overnight care of animals. ... "Kennel, animal boarding and day care" means commercial or public facilities for the keeping, boarding or maintaining and care of four or more dogs, four months of age or older, or four or more cats, except for dogs or cats in pet shops or veterinary offices.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
12-A is permitted outright, without a conditional use permit or discretionary hearing, in the commercial zoning districts where it appears, and Veterinary offices, including hospitalization services carries that P designation across several of Glendale's commercial zones. 230 defines it as a medical facility licensed by the state Department of Public Health for the treatment of household pets, and specifically allows the use to include overnight care of animals on site, which is what lets a veterinary hospital keep patients overnight without being reclassified as a kennel.
120 separately defines kennel, animal boarding and day care as a commercial facility for keeping four or more dogs or four or more cats, but expressly carves out dogs or cats in pet shops or veterinary offices from that definition, so a busy animal hospital boarding several recovering patients is not pushed into the kennel category or its own zoning track. 12-A does not cross-reference any additional chapter or section for this use, unlike home occupations or wireless facilities listed in the same table.
Violations & Fines
Operating a veterinary office in a zone where Table 30.12-A does not list the use as permitted is an unpermitted land use, enforced like any other zoning violation under the citywide default in § 1.20.010(A): a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day of the unauthorized use counted separately. Community Development can also issue a notice and order to cease the use or seek an administrative citation before referring the matter for criminal prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a conditional use permit to open a veterinary clinic in Glendale?
Can a Glendale veterinary hospital keep animals overnight?
Is a veterinary office treated the same as a pet boarding kennel?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle veterinary clinic zoning.