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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 46
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / ANIMAL DAYCARE USES
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 2, Definitions, of the
Zoning Bylaw, to define animal daycare, and Section 5, District
Regulations, of the Zoning Bylaw, to allow animal daycare uses in
business districts; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
the Redevelopment Board)
Report Excerpt:
The Board recommends Favorable Action (5-0).
The purpose of Article 46 is to add the definition of Animal Day
Care to the Zoning Bylaw and expand its use to parcels with
Business District zoning. Over the last several years, multiple dog
daycare centers have sought to bring their businesses to
Arlington. Currently, the Zoning Bylaw restricts animal daycare to
Industrial zone areas. Arlington only has 154 parcels zoned for
Industrial use, of which only 50 have buildings currently used for
commercial or industrial purposes. The Town presently has three
animal daycare businesses, one of which opened within the past
year, showing demand for this service by Arlington residents.
Animal daycare businesses will still be required to comply with all
other local and state regulations, as outlined in M.G.L. Chapter
140, Section 137A-C, Ollie’s Law, and the Town Bylaw Title VIII,
Article 2, Section 5.
Article 46 will remove the barrier to entry and expand the
economic opportunity to provide this service by allowing animal
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daycare by Special Permit in most Business Districts and by right
in the B4 Vehicle Oriented Business District. Many of the Town’s
parcels zoned B4 are located near Industrial zoned parcels,
making them particularly appropriate for this use, and the Special
Permit process will provide appropriate review for animal daycare
centers in the other business districts. During the Board
discussion, the Board highlighted provisions such as the
requirement for a Special Permit to ensure that the use would not
permit overnight boarding as it is for day-use only. The Board
agreed that expanding where Animal Day Care uses are
permitted would be beneficial to existing and new businesses, as
well as to Arlington residents.
Vote Language:
That the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:
Amend SECTION 2, Definitions, as follows:
Animal day care: Kennel, indoor recreation and/or training
centers for animals operated on a daytime-only basis.
Overnight boarding of animals is prohibited.
Amend SECTION 5.5.3, Use Regulations for Business Districts,
as follows:
Class of Use
B1
B2
B2A
B3
B4
B5
Personal, Consumer and
Business Services
...
Animal Day Care
SP
SP
SP
Y
SP
Redevelopment Board Report
