Planning staff proposes new animal‑service categories, raises kennel threshold and lower permitting fees for small operations

County planners told the commission they will expand animal and pet service use categories and adjust permit requirements to reduce costs for small operators.

Matthew Jamomi, lead planner, said the current code contains only three animal‑related use classes and that the update would add five distinct classifications: daytime animal services (grooming, doggy day care), animal boarding (commercial boarding and domestic sanctuaries), wild animal sanctuary (as defined in county code), veterinary hospitals, and a zoo classification. Jamomi said the goal is to create clearer definitions and permit pathways so common operations are properly classified and reviewed.

On animal boarding, staff said the new classification targets commercial boarding or domestic sanctuaries that care for animals on behalf of others. Jamomi explained a revised threshold: personal keeping allowances would be expanded so that in many zones owners could have up to 10 dogs or cats (or a combination totaling 10) before triggering the higher‑cost conditional use permit; in many agricultural zones the revised boarding classification would instead be eligible for a lower‑level minor use permit (about $1,400) rather than an older $9,000‑level conditional permit.

Commissioners asked for clarification on minor versus higher‑level review and on how rooster/crowing‑fowl rules interact with the package; staff said crowing‑fowl rules are handled in a separate ordinance. Commissioners also expressed concern about neighborhood impacts and enforcement; staff said the animal‑boarding proposal limits outdoor storage and applies different review thresholds by zone.

If adopted, the change would lower financial barriers for small pet‑service businesses and some domestic sanctuaries while retaining stricter controls for larger or higher‑impact animal operations.