Roanoke, VA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Section 36.2-315 is the use table for the nine multiple purpose districts: MX, CN, CG, CLS, D, IN, ROS, UF and UC. Two rows govern veterinary care. "Animal hospital or veterinary clinic, no outdoor pens or runs" carries a P in six cells, which the table's column order places in CN, CG, CLS, D, UF and UC. "Animal hospital or veterinary clinic, outdoor pens or runs" carries an S in the same six positions. The MX, IN and ROS cells are blank in both rows, and the table's legend says a blank cell means the use is not permitted and that any use not listed is not permitted in multiple purpose districts.

The Appendix A definition decides which row a clinic falls into. An animal hospital or veterinary clinic is an establishment for the care, observation, or treatment of domestic animals, including household pets, and can include medical or surgical treatment and care. Boarding is limited to short-time boarding necessitated by and directly related to surgery or medical treatment, and it has to be clearly incidental to the operation of the clinic. A business that boards pets for owners' travel is a kennel instead, defined as the keeping, raising, breeding, training, showing, renting, selling, or boarding of dogs or cats. In this same table, kennels with no outdoor pens or runs are permitted by right only in CG, CLS, D, UF and UC, so CN is open to a clinic but closed to a boarding kennel.

The P cells need no hearing, but Section 36.2-204(b)(2) makes every use permitted as of right or by special exception subject to all provisions of Chapter 36.2, so a by-right clinic still has to meet the rest of the zoning chapter.

The S cells route the clinic through Section 36.2-560. The application is filed with the Zoning Administrator, the Board of Zoning Appeals holds a public hearing with notice under Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, and the Zoning Administrator posts a sign on the property at least ten business days before the hearing. The applicant pays the legal advertisement costs at the rate in the City of Roanoke's Fee Compendium. The Board tests six standards: neighborhood compatibility, water and sewer capacity, street capacity and traffic safety, no added flood potential, conformance with setback, yard, parking, signage and screening rules, and consistency with the Comprehensive Plan.

A granted exception carries conditions. The Board can limit its duration and require a guarantee of compliance. Construction or the use must start within twelve months of the effective date or the permit is void, and a two-year discontinuance voids it as well. After the Board decides, substantially the same request cannot be heard again for one year unless a motion to rehear is granted.