Orem, UT Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted zones
- C2, C3, HS, M1, M2 only
- Land use code
- SLU 6515
- Residential zones
- Not permitted (N), no exceptions
- Conditional use option
- None; row has no "C"
- Governing section
- Orem City Code § 22-19-1, Appendix A
- Zoning violation penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Orem's zoning code lists veterinary services and small animal hospitals as Standard Land Use Code 6515 in Appendix A, and permits the use by right in only five zones: C2, C3, HS, M1 and M2. Every residential zone (R5 through R20), OS5/ROS, PO, C1, CM, BP and PF are marked "N," meaning the use is not permitted there at all, not even conditionally.
22-19-1. Land Uses by Zone. Uses which are permitted, not permitted, and uses which require a conditional use permit are listed in Appendix A, which is incorporated herein by this reference. In Appendix A, permitted uses are identified with a "P" in the zone in which they are permitted. If a use requires a conditional use permit in a zone, it is identified with a "C" and the provisions of Article IV shall apply. If a use is identified with an "N" in a zone, then the use is not permitted in the zone. Any use not listed in Appendix A is not permitted. [Appendix A table row] 6515 Veterinarian Services and Small Animal Hospitals N N N N N N N N N N P P P P P N N N
Full Breakdown
Article 22-19, Section 22-19-1 of the Orem City Code (Land Uses by Zone) incorporates Appendix A by reference and sets the rule that governs every use in the city: a "P" means the use is permitted by right in that zone, a "C" means it needs a conditional use permit under Article IV, and an "N" means the use is flatly not permitted. Any use not listed in Appendix A at all is not permitted anywhere. " There is no "C" anywhere in the row, so there is no conditional-use path into a zone where the code marks it "N": a clinic there requires a rezone under 22-1-5, not a permit application.
For comparison, the adjacent SLU 6516 (Large Animal Hospitals) is permitted only in M1 and M2, and SLU 6517 (Animal Kennels and Runs) is permitted in C2, M1 and M2, showing the code deliberately separates small-animal veterinary practices from kennels and large-animal facilities rather than treating them as one use.
Violations & Fines
Operating a veterinary clinic in a zone marked "N" is a violation of Chapter 22. Under Section 22-1-6 (Penalties), violating any zoning provision is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 for individuals or $1,000 for corporations, associations or partnerships, or imprisonment up to three months, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Development Services code enforcement personnel are authorized to issue non-criminal citations, and the City may also seek an injunction or abatement order under Section 22-1-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a vet clinic in an Orem residential zone?
Which Orem zones allow a small animal hospital?
Is a conditional use permit available if my property isn't in an allowed zone?
What happens if I run a vet clinic in a zone where it isn't allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orem
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Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle veterinary clinic zoning.