Linden, NJ Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

City Code § 31-2 defines 'animal hospital' as 'a place where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment,' and it caps any accompanying kennel use: boarding at an animal hospital is limited to short-term stays and has to remain incidental to the medical practice, not a stand-alone kennel operation. A separate definition, 'animal kennel,' covers 'any building, structure or premises in which animals are kept, boarded, bred or trained for commercial gain,' a broader and more heavily regulated use than an incidental boarding room at a vet's office.

The same § 31-2 definition of 'home occupation' that bars day care centers from residential zones also names 'veterinary hospitals' among the businesses that cannot qualify as a home-based use, alongside kennels, stables and mortuary establishments. A veterinarian cannot simply see patients out of a house in a residential district and call it a home occupation.

Where animal hospitals are allowed is spelled out zone by zone. Section 31-11.2 lists 'animal hospitals' among the permitted principal uses of the PCD Planned Commercial Development District, added by Ordinance No. 66-65 on November 22, 2022. Section 31-12.1 lists 'animal hospitals' again as a permitted principal use of the C1-B Commercial District, alongside retail sales, food stores, banks and health clubs. Outside those two commercial districts and any other zone where the use is separately listed, a veterinary hospital is not a permitted use and cannot obtain a building permit or Certificate of Occupancy under §§ 31-35.1 through 31-35.3.