Issaquah, WA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Land Use Code § 18.502.080 sets the operating and siting standards for three animal businesses: veterinary clinics, boarding kennels, and pet day cares. Services and uses are restricted to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Overnight boarding: Only veterinary clinics and boarding kennels can provide overnight boarding. Pet day cares cannot. The services must be located in a building, and the structure must be soundproofed to minimize noise impacts to the surrounding properties and comply with IMC noise regulations.

Indoor rule: Veterinary clinics and pet day cares in any allowed zoning district, except the IC (Intensive Commercial) zoning district, must have all accessory services and uses located indoors. Outdoor accessory uses such as animal exercise areas are available only to veterinary clinics and pet day cares in the IC zone and to boarding kennels in any allowed zone.

Outdoor area conditions: When the outdoor area abuts or sits in a residential zone, it must be located within an interior courtyard completely surrounded by building walls, or enclosed by a solid fence and reviewed under IMC 18.402.020, Table of permitted uses, and 18.204.020, Review levels. When it does not abut a residential zone, it must be in an interior courtyard completely surrounded by building walls, or enclosed by a solid fence no less than six feet tall that is not located within a required setback and is screened under IMC 18.600.090, Fences, walls, and screening. All outdoor accessory services or uses are restricted to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Home settings: A veterinary clinic or hospital is on the list of uses that cannot be permitted as a home business under § 18.502.120(F)(3). A kennel or animal breeding home business needs additional approval under Level 2 review, allows only indoor boarding, and in the C-Res and SF-E zones needs buffering of outdoor paddock areas or pet runs a minimum of 10 feet from buildings or dwellings on and off the property.