Lower Paxton, PA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Chapter 203, Zoning, of the Lower Paxton Township Code defines the use in § 203-202. Animal hospital and veterinarian services is an establishment where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment, and the boarding of animals is limited to short-term care incidental to the hospital use or temporary boarding during treatment. The definition adds that animal hospitals and veterinarians do not include kennel services. A separate entry for veterinary clinic simply cross-references animal hospital and veterinarian services, so both terms get the same treatment under the chapter.

The kennel line matters for a clinic that wants to offer boarding. A kennel is a use where four or more domestic animals or pets six months or older are bred, trained, and/or boarded for compensation for more than 12 consecutive hours. A clinic whose boarding goes beyond short-term care incidental to treatment moves toward the kennel use and loses the protection of the hospital definition.

Use approval comes from Table 1, the Table of Authorized Principal Uses, under § 203-305. P is a permitted use by right, subject to the chapter's requirements and a zoning certificate issued under Article XII; C is a conditional use granted by the Board of Supervisors under Article VI; SE is a special exception granted by the Zoning Hearing Board under Article VII. Every entry printed in the Animal hospitals and veterinarian services row is a P. Under § 203-305(A)(2), a use not expressly listed for a district is not permitted there.

Parking is set by § 203-903: 1 space per employee and 2 per exam room. Section 203-617(A)(14) bars a veterinary practice from the home occupation category: clinics, hospitals or nursing homes, and kennels, veterinary offices and clinics, are not considered home occupations and are restricted to the zoning districts where they are specifically authorized as permitted uses or uses by special exception.