Highland, CA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- Highland Municipal Code § 16.20.030, Table 16.20.030.A
- With exterior kennels, pens or runs
- C in CG, PC and VC; not permitted in NC
- Without exterior kennels, pens or runs
- SR in CG, NC, PC and VC
- C means
- Conditional use permit under Chapter 16.08
- SR means
- Staff review permit under Chapter 16.08
- Height limit
- 60 feet in CG; 35 feet in NC and VC
Summary
In the City of Highland, California, a veterinary office or animal hospital with exterior kennels, pens or runs needs a conditional use permit in the General Commercial, Planned Commercial and Village Commercial districts and is not permitted in Neighborhood Commercial. One without exterior runs needs a staff review permit in all four districts.
A. Where the symbol "▪" appears in the column beneath a commercial zone district, the corresponding land use or activity is not permitted in the zone district. B. Where the symbol "SR" appears in the column beneath a commercial zone designation, the corresponding land use or activity may be permitted subject to the approval of a staff review permit application as provided for in Chapter 16.08 HMC. C. Where the symbol "C" appears in the column beneath a commercial zone designation, the corresponding land use or activity may be permitted subject to the approval of a conditional use permit application as provided for in Chapter 16.08 HMC. Table 16.20.030.A Uses Permitted Within Commercial Districts Use CG NC PC VC ... 122. ... Veterinary offices and animal hospitals including exterior kennels, pens or runs C ▪ C C 123. Veterinary offices and animal hospitals excluding exterior kennels, pens or runs SR SR SR SR
Full Breakdown
Highland Municipal Code § 16.20.030 and its Table 16.20.030.A set the rule for the City of Highland, San Bernardino County. The table lists two separate veterinary uses across four commercial districts: General Commercial (CG), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Planned Commercial (PC) and Village Commercial (VC). Item 122 is veterinary offices and animal hospitals including exterior kennels, pens or runs. It is a conditional use in CG, PC and VC, and the table marks it as not permitted in NC. Item 123 is veterinary offices and animal hospitals excluding exterior kennels, pens or runs. It is a staff review use in all four districts.
The section defines the symbols. The symbol "C" means the use may be permitted subject to a conditional use permit application under Chapter 16.08, and "SR" means approval of a staff review permit application under the same chapter. The "▪" symbol means the use is not permitted in that district. The practical result for an applicant in the City of Highland is that an outdoor run is the trigger: adding exterior kennels, pens or runs moves a clinic from staff-level review to a conditional use permit, and in Neighborhood Commercial it removes the use entirely.
The code's definition of animal hospital, in § 16.06.010, adds that use as a kennel shall be limited to short-time boarding and shall be only incidental to the hospital use.
Site standards in § 16.20.040 then apply to any clinic building. The maximum building height is 60 feet in CG and 35 feet in NC and VC, the front building setback is 20 feet in CG, NC and VC, and the maximum floor area ratio is 0.50 in those three districts. Where a single-story commercial use abuts a lot in a residential zone district, a landscaped setback equal to the commercial building height is required, to a maximum of 30 feet, and a two-story building within 40 feet of a residential district requires a conditional use permit. No external security bars are permitted on structures in commercial districts. Parking follows Chapter 16.52.
Violations & Fines
The table prints no penalty. A kennel-equipped clinic in the Neighborhood Commercial district is not a permitted use at all, and a clinic in another commercial district without the staff review or conditional use approval the table requires has no approval for the use. Review and enforcement run through the City of Highland Community Development Department under Chapter 16.08.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a vet clinic in Highland's Neighborhood Commercial district?
What permit does an animal hospital with outdoor runs need in Highland?
Does Highland treat pet boarding at a clinic as a separate use?
Is a clinic next to homes treated differently in Highland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highland
California rules heatmap·Compare Highland to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle veterinary clinic zoning.