Huntington Beach, CA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

10 of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance splits veterinary-type businesses into two use classifications. 'Offices, Business and Professional' covers 'architectural, engineering, graphic design, interior design, real estate, insurance, investment, legal, and veterinary offices,' along with incidental medical/dental laboratories, but excludes banks and savings and loans. 04 marks this office classification 'P' (permitted by right) in all three of the city's general commercial districts: CO Office Professional, CG General Commercial, and CV Visitor Commercial. 'Animal Hospitals,' by contrast, is defined as establishments 'where small animals receive medical and surgical treatment,' limited to facilities that are 'entirely enclosed, soundproofed, and air-conditioned,' with grooming and boarding capped at a maximum of 30 days if incidental to the hospital use.

04's table marks Animal Hospitals '-' (not permitted) in the CO and CV districts and 'ZA' in the CG district, meaning a conditional use permit from the Zoning Administrator is required before a full veterinary hospital with surgery or boarding can open, even in the one commercial district where it is allowed at all. In practice, a veterinarian running an exam-and-consultation office without on-site surgery, overnight boarding, or kenneling can locate as a matter of right in any CO, CG, or CV zoned building, while a practice that performs surgery, boards animals, or operates a kennel needs Zoning Administrator approval and must be sited in a CG-zoned building meeting the enclosed, soundproofed, air-conditioned standard.