Yellowstone County, MT Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted districts
- CX, C3, I1, I2 only (§ 27-1005.D.3)
- Outdoor fencing
- Sight-obscuring fence required
- Staffing
- Staff must accompany animals outdoors at all times
- Outdoor hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (§ 27-1005.D.1)
- Residential setback
- At least 25 feet (§ 27-1005.D.1(b))
- Enforcement
- County zoning coordinator, § 27-1704
Summary
A veterinary clinic or hospital with outdoor boarding facilities in unincorporated Yellowstone County may only be sited in the CX, C3, I1, or I2 zone districts, and any outdoor runs or exercise areas must be fully enclosed by a sight-obscuring fence. Staff must accompany every boarded or treated animal at all times while it is outdoors, and outdoor use countywide is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Any outdoor activity areas such as kennels, runs, or exercise areas shall be subject to the following: 1. General Requirements The facilities shall: (a) Only be used between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM, and (b) Be located at least 25 feet from any residential district. ... 3. Veterinary Services (with Boarding) Small Animal Veterinary clinics or hospitals in the CX, C3, I1, and I2 districts may have outdoor facilities, including runs and exercise areas, but such outdoor facilities must be completely screened with a sight-obscuring fence. Boarded animals and animals under veterinary care must be accompanied at all times by staff while in the outdoor facility.
Full Breakdown
D, Animal Sales and Services with Outdoor Facilities. 1). 2 requires the pens, cages, and runs to be inside a completely enclosed, soundproof building so noise and odor stay off the premises. 3 is more specific: the use is confined to the CX heavy commercial, C3 general commercial, I1 controlled industrial, and I2 heavy industrial districts, and any outdoor runs or exercise areas must be completely screened by a sight-obscuring fence rather than merely enclosed. The section also imposes a staffing rule found nowhere else in the animal-use standards: boarded animals and animals under veterinary care must be accompanied by staff at all times while they are in the outdoor facility, meaning unsupervised outdoor turnout is not allowed even inside the fenced area.
A veterinary use proposing outdoor boarding in a district other than CX, C3, I1, or I2, such as a neighborhood commercial district, does not qualify under this subsection and would need a different use classification or district approval.
Violations & Fines
Running outdoor kennel or boarding facilities without the required sight-obscuring fence, leaving boarded animals outside unsupervised, or operating outside the CX, C3, I1, or I2 districts is a Zoning Code violation. Under § 27-1704.G it is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to the state statutory limit or up to six months in the county jail, or both, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense; the zoning coordinator can also issue a stop-use order under § 27-1704.E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which zones allow a veterinary clinic with outdoor boarding in Yellowstone County?
Can boarded animals be left outside unsupervised at a vet clinic?
How far must a vet clinic's outdoor kennel be from a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yellowstone County
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