Woburn Council Approves Pet Day Care Zoning Rules

WOBURN, MA — Woburn City Council recently approved a new zoning rule governing pet daycare and recreation facilities.

The council voted unanimously March 2 to approve Alderman Edward Tedesco's proposed rule. Mayor Scott Galvin signed the bill March 4.

The new regulation differentiates daytime pet care facilities from overnight kennels, which are already covered by the city zoning code. Under the new rule, daytime pet daycares are only allowed in the Interstate Business (B-I) and industrial districts, with special permits and are not permitted within 500 feet of residential areas.

The pet daycare regulation has been in the works since late 2020, as reported by the Daily Times Chronicle.

At one point it was sent back to committee when the city solicitor said the plan to make the facilities special permit-only was against the law. But in a communication to the council ahead of the March 2 meeting, Solicitor Ellen Doucette revised her opinion, although she continued to recommend allowing the facilities by-right in certain districts, like industrial and business.

The regulation also limits retail space of pet daycares, mandates facilities take care of animal waste, requires attendants whenever dogs are present and requires outdoor exercise spaces be fenced in.

The full meeting is available here from Woburn Public Media Center.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.