Washington County, MD Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Under Article 12 of the Washington County Zoning Ordinance, governing the BG Business, General District, a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, or kennel that keeps animals entirely indoors, with no outside runway or exercise area, is a principal permitted use under Section 12.1(a). No Board of Zoning Appeals hearing is required for that configuration; the operator applies for a standard zoning/building permit through the Washington County Department of Plan Review and Permitting.

The moment the facility adds an outside runway or exercise area, it moves to Section 12.2(d), the Special Exception Uses list requiring Board of Zoning Appeals authorization after a public hearing. That subsection sets a specific spacing rule: the outdoor runway or exercise area must sit at least 100 feet from any dwelling, place of worship, school, or institution for human care that is not located on the same lot. Section 12.2(d) also cross-references Section 12.5 for additional siting requirements tied to special exception uses in the BG District.

Because the use classification hinges entirely on whether animals go outside, a clinic proposing outdoor kennel runs, dog exercise yards, or outdoor treatment/holding pens must budget for the special exception process: site plan submission, notice, and a public hearing before the Board, rather than an over-the-counter permit. Applicants who later add an outdoor run to an already-permitted indoor-only clinic must go back through the special exception process before construction, since the added feature reclassifies the use under Section 12.2 rather than 12.1.