Glenn County, CA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- FA zone veterinary use
- requires conditional use permit
- AT zone veterinary use
- requires conditional use permit
- RE zone veterinary use
- requires conditional use permit
- CC Community Commercial
- small animal clinic permitted by right
- CC hours restriction
- 6 a.m.-midnight, no drive-through
- CUP review body
- Glenn County Planning Commission
- Boarding limit
- short-term only, incidental to treatment
Summary
Where a veterinary office can open in unincorporated Glenn County depends on the zone: Glenn County Code § 15.32.030 requires a conditional use permit for kennels, animal hospitals and veterinarian's offices in the FA Foothill Agricultural/Forestry Zone, while § 15.40.020 lets a small animal veterinary clinic operate as a permitted use in the CC Community Commercial District.
The following uses and structures may be permitted in the FA zone only if a conditional use permit has first been secured: Commercial storage and handling of agricultural chemicals; Farm labor camps and structures for transient labor; Commercial hog and pig farming; Animal sales yards; Commercial stables, riding academies; ... Government buildings and properties; Kennels, animal hospitals and veterinarian's offices; Public utility buildings and public service or utility uses (transmission and distribution lines excepted), including but not limited to reservoirs, storage tanks, pumping stations, telephone exchanges, power stations, transformer stations, service yards and parking lots; Cemeteries, crematories and mausoleums;
Full Breakdown
Where a veterinary practice can locate in unincorporated Glenn County turns on the zone. 030 lists kennels, animal hospitals and veterinarian's offices among the uses that may be permitted only after a conditional use permit has first been secured, alongside commercial hog and pig farming, animal sales yards, and commercial stables. 030 does the same in the RE zone. 22, not administrative sign-off. The rule flips in commercial districts built for retail and service uses. and midnight, and has no drive-through facility. The code separately defines an animal hospital or veterinary hospital as a place giving animals medical or surgical treatment and limits any accompanying boarding to short-term stays incidental to that treatment, distinguishing it from a stand-alone kennel. 030.
Violations & Fines
Opening an animal hospital or veterinarian's office in the FA, AT or RE zone without first securing a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission is a zoning violation under Title 15. Glenn County Code § 1.12.010 makes a first offense an infraction, escalating to a misdemeanor for a third violation of the same requirement within 12 months, with § 1.13.010 setting the misdemeanor penalty at up to $5,000 in fines, up to one year in county jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a veterinary clinic on agricultural land in Glenn County?
Where can a veterinary clinic open without a conditional use permit?
Can a veterinary hospital also board animals overnight?
What is the process for getting a conditional use permit for a rural veterinary office?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glenn County
California rules heatmap·Compare Glenn County 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.