Modesto, CA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Modesto Municipal Code Section 10-2.1100 defines "Veterinary Hospital, Large Animal" as "a business for the care and treatment of livestock and other commercial animals," while Section 10-2.1101 defines "Veterinary Hospital, Small Animal" as "a business for the care and treatment of household pets." Table 3.1-1, the citywide Land Use Table under Section 10-3.101, treats these two uses very differently. Large-animal hospitals are marked "P" (permitted) only in the C-M (Commercial-Industrial), M-1 (Light Industrial) and M-2 (Heavy Industrial) zones, and "-" (not permitted) everywhere else, including all three residential zones and every commercial and office zone short of C-M. Small-animal hospitals, by contrast, are marked "P" in the MU-P, MU-H, P-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, M-1 and M-2 zones, a much wider footprint, though still "-" (not permitted) in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential zones.

Once a hospital is sited, Table 5.1-1, the parking table adopted under Section 10-5.102, sets its off-street parking obligation: "Veterinary Hospital 1 space per 300 square feet including animal runs" citywide, dropping to 1 space per 500 square feet including animal runs inside the Downtown Area. The requirement is calculated on total floor area, including any animal runs on site, not just exam-room or office space.