Pet daycare centers are businesses that provide care for pets while the owners are away from home during the day. They have become increasingly popular with pet owners, with more than a dozen pet daycare centers currently operating throughout the city. However, since they are a relatively new type of service, the City’s land use regulations do not clearly address these businesses, leading to confusion for business owners and neighbors.

In response, DPD is proposing Land Use Code amendments to:

• identify pet daycare centers as a general retail sales and service use distinct from animal shelters and kennels, and
• apply appropriate standards for pet daycares, to mitigate potentially adverse impacts on their surroundings.

The proposed code provisions would define pet daycare centers as retail sales and service uses that may include boarding. They would be permitted in all commercial, downtown and industrial zones. Standards would limit the area devoted to boarding, identify measures to control potential noise and odors and require parking and loading spaces.

DPD anticipates that the City Council will consider these proposals this summer.