San Jose · Land use · Kennel
Where is a kennel (dog boarding) allowed in San Jose?
In San Jose, a kennel (dog boarding) is allowed in 12 base zones (CP, CN, CG, UVC, UV and 7 more, all with a condition), needs a special use permit in 2 (PQP and CIC, all with a condition) and not allowed in 5 (San Jose use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: CP, CN, CG, UVC, UV, MUC, MUN, UR and 4 more
- Needs a permit: PQP and CIC
- Not allowed: CO, TEC, IP, LI and HI
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the San Jose Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a kennel (dog boarding) can go
San Jose's code calls this use “Animal boarding (indoor)”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| CP | Allowed — see note Note 8: Permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise prohibited in CO. In PQP the use is permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise, a Special Use Permit is required. | USES ALLOWED |
| CN | Allowed — see note Note 8: Permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise prohibited in CO. In PQP the use is permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise, a Special Use Permit is required. | USES ALLOWED |
| CG | Allowed — see note Note 8: Permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise prohibited in CO. In PQP the use is permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise, a Special Use Permit is required. | USES ALLOWED |
| UVC | Allowed — see note Note 7: Except as an incidental use to neighborhood agriculture, all uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, medical care, must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USES ALLOWED |
| UV | Allowed — see note Note 7: Except as an incidental use to neighborhood agriculture, all uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, medical care, must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USES ALLOWED |
| MUC | Allowed — see note Note 7: Except as an incidental use to neighborhood agriculture, all uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, medical care, must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USES ALLOWED |
| MUN | Allowed — see note Note 7: Except as an incidental use to neighborhood agriculture, all uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, medical care, must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USES ALLOWED |
| UR | Allowed — see note Note 7: Except as an incidental use to neighborhood agriculture, all uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, medical care, must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USES ALLOWED |
| TR | Allowed — see note Note 7: Except as an incidental use to neighborhood agriculture, all uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, medical care, must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USES ALLOWED |
| DC | Allowed — see note Note b: [Applies only inside the Downtown Active Use Area] Not permitted in corner tenant spaces. Corner tenant spaces are defined as storefronts that extend up to or beyond 30 feet along the street in either direction from the intersection. | USES ALLOWED |
| DC-NT1 | Allowed — see note Note b: [Applies only inside the Downtown Active Use Area] Not permitted in corner tenant spaces. Corner tenant spaces are defined as storefronts that extend up to or beyond 30 feet along the street in either direction from the intersection. | USES ALLOWED |
| MS-C | Allowed — see note Note 5: All uses involving any type of care for animals, including but not limited to grooming, boarding, or medical care must be conducted wholly inside a building. | USE REGULATIONS |
| PQP | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 8: Permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise prohibited in CO. In PQP the use is permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise, a Special Use Permit is required. | USES ALLOWED |
| CIC | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 22: Outdoor Animal Boarding is allowed through a Special Use Permit in the CIC Zoning District. | USES ALLOWED |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Not covered here: Planned Development (PD) and other zones outside the seven supplied chapters; MS-G cells where the three frontage columns differ. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in San Jose
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a kennel (dog boarding) in the PQP zone in San Jose?
Only with a special use permit. San Jose's use table lists it that way in PQP (USES ALLOWED). The code adds a condition: “Permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise prohibited in CO. In PQP the use is permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise, a Special Use Permit is required.”
Can I have a kennel (dog boarding) in the CO zone in San Jose?
No. San Jose's use table does not allow it in CO (USES ALLOWED).
Can I have a kennel (dog boarding) in the CP zone in San Jose?
Yes, with a condition. San Jose's use table lists it as allowed in CP (USES ALLOWED). The code adds a condition: “Permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise prohibited in CO. In PQP the use is permitted only as incidental to neighborhood agriculture; otherwise, a Special Use Permit is required.”
General information, not legal advice.
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