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

12 of the Stockton Municipal Code, Location and Maintenance of Veterinary Hospitals, has governed where animal hospitals can operate since it was codified from the City's prior code § 7-145. 020 sets the buffer: a veterinary hospital cannot be run in a building whose frontage or sides sit within 35 feet of any dwelling house or residence, though the code carves out the rear of the structure, which may come as close as 15 feet to a neighboring home. 010 backs that setback with a construction standard, requiring any building used as an animal hospital to be built and maintained so it is sanitary and does not become offensive or endanger public health or comfort.

030, upon a hospital's request, Animal Services collects and disposes of dead animals, but requires the hospital to first place them in containers or freezers, and to suture or bag any animal that has undergone an autopsy or other procedure. 00 per call for dogs and other animals. Because this chapter sits in Title 6 (Animal Services), it operates alongside, not in place of, Title 16's Development Code use tables that govern where veterinary uses are zoned; a hospital still needs to be sited in an allowed zoning district and then, separately, comply with the 35/15-foot residential buffer.