West Des Moines, IA Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic Zoning (2026)

Section 9-10-4.A.20 applies to veterinary and animal service uses, which the zoning use tables list under SIC 0741 (veterinary services for livestock) and SIC 0742 (veterinary services for animal specialties), both of which cross-reference this section for their operational standards. The rule applies in multi-tenant buildings within any district where the use is permitted, and wherever noise or odors from the animal service could reach an adjacent or nearby business, even inside the same building. For all veterinary and animal service uses, subsection a requires every wall, ceiling, or floor assembly around an animal holding, exam, or treatment area to meet or exceed a Sound Transmission Class rating of 55, running continuously from floor to roof and sealed with caulk at every joint and penetration; doors and windows in an exterior wall of that assembly must meet STC 40, while doors and windows on an interior tenant-separation wall must meet STC 30.

The ceiling over those areas must meet a Noise Reduction Coefficient of at least 0.70, and the HVAC system must be designed to eliminate odors. Operators must also identify the outdoor space used for animal waste elimination and provide a maintenance schedule for cleaning and removing that waste. Subsection b adds a stricter standard for multi-tenant buildings: the wall, ceiling, or floor assembly between the entire tenant space conducting the veterinary activity and its neighbors must meet STC 50, floor to roof and fully caulked, and the HVAC system for that tenant space must be completely independent of any other tenant's system to stop sound or odor transmission.