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

8, HENC 2, and the listed PLA subareas) lists veterinary offices as an allowed use only subject to Special Regulation PU-23, which imposes four specific conditions. First, a veterinary office may only treat small animals on the subject property, meaning large-animal veterinary practices are not permitted under this proviso. Second, outside runs and other outside facilities for the animals are flatly prohibited, so any outdoor kenneling or exercise area for patients is off the table in these zones. Third, the site must be designed so that noise generated by the use is not audible off the subject property, and the applicant must submit a certification to that effect signed by a licensed acoustical engineer along with the development permit application, before the City will approve the use.

Fourth, and most restrictive, a veterinary office is not permitted at all in any development that contains dwelling units, which rules out combining a vet clinic with apartments, condos, or any residential component on the same site or building in these high-density residential zones. 20 that veterinary offices are listed as permitted (not "NP") for their specific zone before the PU-23 conditions come into play. The Kirkland Planning and Building Department administers site plan and development permit review for compliance with these provisos.