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Washington, D.C. zoning › where can I put this

Where can I put a veterinary office or hospital in Washington, D.C.?

Veterinary Office or Hospital

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 17 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the District. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
CG-5
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
29ConditionalSubtitle U §508.1(l)
Veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital subject to the following conditions: (1) A veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may board any animal permitted to be lawfully sold in the District of Columbia, pursuant to § 9(j) of the Animal Control Act of 1970 (D.C. Law 3-30, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 8‑1808(j)); (2) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (3) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall be located and designated to create no objectionable conditions to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from animal noise, odor, or waste; (4) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall not abut an existing residential use or a residential zone; unless the existing residential use is in a mixed-use building and the applicant demonstrates that: (A) The building was designed and constructed or will be re-designed and renovated to mitigate noise to limit negative impacts on residential units that the use will abut, including the use of acoustical tiles, caulking to seal penetrations made in floor slabs for pipes, and spray-on noise insulation; (B) The windows and doors of the space devoted to the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital use shall be kept closed, and all doors facing a residential use will be solid core; (C) Animal waste shall be placed in closed waste disposal containers located in enclosed areas or away from abutting or confronting residential windows and doors; and shall be collected by a waste disposal company at least weekly; (D) Odors will be controlled by means of an air filtration system or an equivalently effective odor control system; and (E) Floor finish material, areas intended to be wet, and wall finish materials measured a minimum of forty-eight inches (48 in.) from the floor, shall be impervious and washable; City of Washington, D.C. | Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-16 (5) External yards or other external facilities for the keeping of animals shall not be permitted; (6) Pet grooming and the sale of pet supplies are permitted as accessory uses; and (7) The Board may waive or modify the condition of this paragraph upon a determination that there will be no adverse impacts to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from the waiver or modification; and (m) Youth Residential Care Home for sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families. There shall be no other lot containing a youth residential care home within a radius of five hundred feet (500 ft.) from any portion of the lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 18-02 published at 65 DCR 12148 (November 2, 2018); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 19-31 published at 69 DCR 12886 (October 21, 2022).
CG-6
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle U §508.1(l)
Veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital subject to the following conditions: (1) A veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may board any animal permitted to be lawfully sold in the District of Columbia, pursuant to § 9(j) of the Animal Control Act of 1970 (D.C. Law 3-30, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 8‑1808(j)); (2) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (3) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall be located and designated to create no objectionable conditions to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from animal noise, odor, or waste; (4) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall not abut an existing residential use or a residential zone; unless the existing residential use is in a mixed-use building and the applicant demonstrates that: (A) The building was designed and constructed or will be re-designed and renovated to mitigate noise to limit negative impacts on residential units that the use will abut, including the use of acoustical tiles, caulking to seal penetrations made in floor slabs for pipes, and spray-on noise insulation; (B) The windows and doors of the space devoted to the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital use shall be kept closed, and all doors facing a residential use will be solid core; (C) Animal waste shall be placed in closed waste disposal containers located in enclosed areas or away from abutting or confronting residential windows and doors; and shall be collected by a waste disposal company at least weekly; (D) Odors will be controlled by means of an air filtration system or an equivalently effective odor control system; and (E) Floor finish material, areas intended to be wet, and wall finish materials measured a minimum of forty-eight inches (48 in.) from the floor, shall be impervious and washable; City of Washington, D.C. | Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-16 (5) External yards or other external facilities for the keeping of animals shall not be permitted; (6) Pet grooming and the sale of pet supplies are permitted as accessory uses; and (7) The Board may waive or modify the condition of this paragraph upon a determination that there will be no adverse impacts to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from the waiver or modification; and (m) Youth Residential Care Home for sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families. There shall be no other lot containing a youth residential care home within a radius of five hundred feet (500 ft.) from any portion of the lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 18-02 published at 65 DCR 12148 (November 2, 2018); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 19-31 published at 69 DCR 12886 (October 21, 2022).
CG-7
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
1ConditionalSubtitle U §508.1(l)
Veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital subject to the following conditions: (1) A veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may board any animal permitted to be lawfully sold in the District of Columbia, pursuant to § 9(j) of the Animal Control Act of 1970 (D.C. Law 3-30, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 8‑1808(j)); (2) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (3) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall be located and designated to create no objectionable conditions to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from animal noise, odor, or waste; (4) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall not abut an existing residential use or a residential zone; unless the existing residential use is in a mixed-use building and the applicant demonstrates that: (A) The building was designed and constructed or will be re-designed and renovated to mitigate noise to limit negative impacts on residential units that the use will abut, including the use of acoustical tiles, caulking to seal penetrations made in floor slabs for pipes, and spray-on noise insulation; (B) The windows and doors of the space devoted to the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital use shall be kept closed, and all doors facing a residential use will be solid core; (C) Animal waste shall be placed in closed waste disposal containers located in enclosed areas or away from abutting or confronting residential windows and doors; and shall be collected by a waste disposal company at least weekly; (D) Odors will be controlled by means of an air filtration system or an equivalently effective odor control system; and (E) Floor finish material, areas intended to be wet, and wall finish materials measured a minimum of forty-eight inches (48 in.) from the floor, shall be impervious and washable; City of Washington, D.C. | Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-16 (5) External yards or other external facilities for the keeping of animals shall not be permitted; (6) Pet grooming and the sale of pet supplies are permitted as accessory uses; and (7) The Board may waive or modify the condition of this paragraph upon a determination that there will be no adverse impacts to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from the waiver or modification; and (m) Youth Residential Care Home for sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families. There shall be no other lot containing a youth residential care home within a radius of five hundred feet (500 ft.) from any portion of the lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 18-02 published at 65 DCR 12148 (November 2, 2018); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 19-31 published at 69 DCR 12886 (October 21, 2022).
D-1
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-2
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
78ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
116ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-4
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
131ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-4-R
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
194ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-5
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
506ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-5-R
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
148ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-6
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
316ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-6-R
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
113ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-7
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
141ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
D-8
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
30ConditionalSubtitle I §303(i)
Veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, or veterinary boarding hospitals, subject to the conditions applicable to those uses in Subtitle U §§ 512.1 and 513.1 in any D zones except for the D-1-R zone and the portions of the D-7- zone within the boundaries of the Pennsylvania Avenue Sub-Area defined in Subtitle I § 608. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021).
MU-12
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
310ConditionalSubtitle U §508.1(l)
Veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital subject to the following conditions: (1) A veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may board any animal permitted to be lawfully sold in the District of Columbia, pursuant to § 9(j) of the Animal Control Act of 1970 (D.C. Law 3-30, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 8‑1808(j)); (2) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (3) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall be located and designated to create no objectionable conditions to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from animal noise, odor, or waste; (4) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall not abut an existing residential use or a residential zone; unless the existing residential use is in a mixed-use building and the applicant demonstrates that: (A) The building was designed and constructed or will be re-designed and renovated to mitigate noise to limit negative impacts on residential units that the use will abut, including the use of acoustical tiles, caulking to seal penetrations made in floor slabs for pipes, and spray-on noise insulation; (B) The windows and doors of the space devoted to the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital use shall be kept closed, and all doors facing a residential use will be solid core; (C) Animal waste shall be placed in closed waste disposal containers located in enclosed areas or away from abutting or confronting residential windows and doors; and shall be collected by a waste disposal company at least weekly; (D) Odors will be controlled by means of an air filtration system or an equivalently effective odor control system; and (E) Floor finish material, areas intended to be wet, and wall finish materials measured a minimum of forty-eight inches (48 in.) from the floor, shall be impervious and washable; City of Washington, D.C. | Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-16 (5) External yards or other external facilities for the keeping of animals shall not be permitted; (6) Pet grooming and the sale of pet supplies are permitted as accessory uses; and (7) The Board may waive or modify the condition of this paragraph upon a determination that there will be no adverse impacts to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from the waiver or modification; and (m) Youth Residential Care Home for sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families. There shall be no other lot containing a youth residential care home within a radius of five hundred feet (500 ft.) from any portion of the lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 18-02 published at 65 DCR 12148 (November 2, 2018); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 19-31 published at 69 DCR 12886 (October 21, 2022).
MU-13
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
77ConditionalSubtitle U §508.1(l)
Veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital subject to the following conditions: (1) A veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may board any animal permitted to be lawfully sold in the District of Columbia, pursuant to § 9(j) of the Animal Control Act of 1970 (D.C. Law 3-30, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 8‑1808(j)); (2) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (3) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall be located and designated to create no objectionable conditions to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from animal noise, odor, or waste; (4) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall not abut an existing residential use or a residential zone; unless the existing residential use is in a mixed-use building and the applicant demonstrates that: (A) The building was designed and constructed or will be re-designed and renovated to mitigate noise to limit negative impacts on residential units that the use will abut, including the use of acoustical tiles, caulking to seal penetrations made in floor slabs for pipes, and spray-on noise insulation; (B) The windows and doors of the space devoted to the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital use shall be kept closed, and all doors facing a residential use will be solid core; (C) Animal waste shall be placed in closed waste disposal containers located in enclosed areas or away from abutting or confronting residential windows and doors; and shall be collected by a waste disposal company at least weekly; (D) Odors will be controlled by means of an air filtration system or an equivalently effective odor control system; and (E) Floor finish material, areas intended to be wet, and wall finish materials measured a minimum of forty-eight inches (48 in.) from the floor, shall be impervious and washable; City of Washington, D.C. | Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-16 (5) External yards or other external facilities for the keeping of animals shall not be permitted; (6) Pet grooming and the sale of pet supplies are permitted as accessory uses; and (7) The Board may waive or modify the condition of this paragraph upon a determination that there will be no adverse impacts to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from the waiver or modification; and (m) Youth Residential Care Home for sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families. There shall be no other lot containing a youth residential care home within a radius of five hundred feet (500 ft.) from any portion of the lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 18-02 published at 65 DCR 12148 (November 2, 2018); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 19-31 published at 69 DCR 12886 (October 21, 2022).
MU-14
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
58ConditionalSubtitle U §508.1(l)
Veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital subject to the following conditions: (1) A veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may board any animal permitted to be lawfully sold in the District of Columbia, pursuant to § 9(j) of the Animal Control Act of 1970 (D.C. Law 3-30, as amended; D.C. Official Code § 8‑1808(j)); (2) No more than fifty percent (50%) of the gross floor area of the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital may be devoted to the boarding of animals; (3) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall be located and designated to create no objectionable conditions to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from animal noise, odor, or waste; (4) The veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital shall not abut an existing residential use or a residential zone; unless the existing residential use is in a mixed-use building and the applicant demonstrates that: (A) The building was designed and constructed or will be re-designed and renovated to mitigate noise to limit negative impacts on residential units that the use will abut, including the use of acoustical tiles, caulking to seal penetrations made in floor slabs for pipes, and spray-on noise insulation; (B) The windows and doors of the space devoted to the veterinary office, veterinary hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital use shall be kept closed, and all doors facing a residential use will be solid core; (C) Animal waste shall be placed in closed waste disposal containers located in enclosed areas or away from abutting or confronting residential windows and doors; and shall be collected by a waste disposal company at least weekly; (D) Odors will be controlled by means of an air filtration system or an equivalently effective odor control system; and (E) Floor finish material, areas intended to be wet, and wall finish materials measured a minimum of forty-eight inches (48 in.) from the floor, shall be impervious and washable; City of Washington, D.C. | Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-16 (5) External yards or other external facilities for the keeping of animals shall not be permitted; (6) Pet grooming and the sale of pet supplies are permitted as accessory uses; and (7) The Board may waive or modify the condition of this paragraph upon a determination that there will be no adverse impacts to building residents or tenants, or to adjacent properties resulting from the waiver or modification; and (m) Youth Residential Care Home for sixteen (16) to twenty-five (25) persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families. There shall be no other lot containing a youth residential care home within a radius of five hundred feet (500 ft.) from any portion of the lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking & Order No. 08-06A published at 63 DCR 2447 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 18-02 published at 65 DCR 12148 (November 2, 2018); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 20-20 published at 68 DCR 2485 (March 5, 2021); Final Rulemaking & Order No. 19-31 published at 69 DCR 12886 (October 21, 2022).

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This answer is good through April 3, 2026 — that is the date the ordinance we hold runs to, as published by DC Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances. The District has since adopted something newer that we have not taken in yet, so parts of this may already be out of date.

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