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Sedona, AZ Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

By-right districts
M2, M3, CO, IN
Conditional-use district
M1 (needs CUP)
Outdoor kennel setback
150 ft from single-family zoning
CO boarding cap
50% of floor area
Governing section
SLDC § 3.3.C(3)

Summary

Veterinary hospitals and clinics are permitted by right in Sedona's M2, M3, CO and IN districts, and allowed with a conditional use permit in M1. Every clinic must meet the same enclosed-building and 150-foot outdoor-kennel setback standards as a commercial kennel, and the CO district caps kennel or boarding space at half the building.

(1) Kennel, Commercial

a. Enclosed Building Requirement The parts of a building where animals are boarded shall be fully enclosed, with solid core doors and no operable windows, and shall be sufficiently insulated so no unreasonable noise or odor can be detected off premises.

b. Kennels with Outdoor Facilities Outdoor facilities, including outdoor runs, shall not be located within 150 feet of any single-family residential zoning district. ... (3) Veterinary Hospital or Clinic A veterinary hospital or clinic shall comply with the same requirements for a commercial kennel in Section 3.3.C(1). The following additional standards shall apply:

a. M1, M2, and M3 Zoning Districts Outdoor kennel facilities are not permitted.

b. CO Zoning District

1. Outdoor kennel facilities require a conditional use permit. 2. Kennels and/or boarding areas are limited to 50 percent of the total floor area.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).

Full Breakdown

C(1): the portions of a building where animals are boarded must be fully enclosed, fitted with solid core doors and no operable windows, and insulated well enough that no unreasonable noise or odor reaches beyond the property. Outdoor facilities, including outdoor runs, cannot sit within 150 feet of any single-family residential zoning district. C(3) layers use-specific limits: in the M1, M2 and M3 manufacturing districts, outdoor kennel facilities are not permitted at all, so any boarding area serving a clinic there must be indoors. In the CO Commercial Office district, an outdoor kennel is allowed only with a conditional use permit, and kennel or boarding space in a CO clinic is capped at 50 percent of the building's total floor area.

1 shows Veterinary Hospital or Clinic use as conditional ("C") in M1, and permitted by right ("P") in M2, M3, CO and IN, while the use is blank, and therefore prohibited, in every residential district, L, CF, OS and OC. Article 9's definition covers a facility for the diagnosis, treatment, or hospitalization of domestic animals operated under a licensed veterinarian, and specifically includes incidental temporary overnight boarding of animals recuperating from treatment, so short-term post-surgical boarding does not turn a clinic into a separate kennel use requiring its own approval.

Violations & Fines

A clinic that opens outdoor kennel runs within 150 feet of single-family residential zoning, or exceeds the 50 percent floor-area cap on boarding in the CO district, is in violation of the Land Development Code. Under Section 1.7.A that is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable as provided by state law, with the option of a civil citation under Section 1.7.B and injunctive relief under Section 1.7.C to stop the noncompliant use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Sedona veterinary clinic keep animals outdoors overnight?
Only within limits. Outdoor kennel runs must stay at least 150 feet from any single-family residential zoning district, and in the M1, M2 and M3 districts outdoor kennel facilities are not permitted at all, so overnight boarding in those zones has to be inside an enclosed, insulated building.
Which zoning districts allow a veterinary hospital in Sedona?
Table 3.1 permits a veterinary hospital or clinic by right in the M2, M3, CO and IN districts. In M1 it is allowed only with a conditional use permit, and it does not appear at all in any residential district, so a clinic cannot open in a house.
Does recovering a surgery patient overnight count as running a kennel?
No. Article 9's definition of Veterinary Hospital or Clinic specifically includes the incidental temporary overnight boarding of animals recuperating from treatment, so short post-surgical stays are part of the clinic use itself and do not trigger the separate commercial kennel standards.

Sources & Official References

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