Douglas County proposes zoning rules for commercial animal training and exercise
The proposed amendment would permit up to 14 weekly sessions per property in four districts; higher activity would require a Use by Special Review.
Douglas County is proposing zoning rules that would allow property owners or lessees in four districts to host animal-training lessons and exercise sessions involving animals they do not own, with a limit of 14 combined sessions per week per property.
Project DR2026-004 is scheduled for a Douglas County Planning Commission hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 28. The commission agenda lists the matter for consideration; the commission has not yet acted. Any recommendation would go to the Board of County Commissioners for a later decision.
The amendment would apply in the Agricultural One, Large Rural Residential, Rural Residential and Estate Residential districts. It would allow a property owner or lessee to conduct training involving a non-owned animal, rider or handler. It also would allow a nonresident to bring a personally owned animal to the property for an exercise session while the owner is present.
Each training lesson or exercise session would count toward the weekly limit. Activity above that limit would require a Use by Special Review, a process that can require applicants to provide information about animals, clients, operating hours and days, parking, loading and traffic impacts.
The county staff report says the amendment also would codify a 2016 administrative determination that dog-and-handler training is sufficiently similar to horse-and-rider training to be allowed in the same districts. The proposal treats animal training and exercise separately from horse boarding.
The Franktown Citizens Coalition, Happy Canyon Homeowners Association and Louviers Conservation Partnership have raised concerns about commercial animal activity in residential areas, including possible barking and other noise, off-leash animals, traffic, trailer parking, road shoulders, property impacts and enforcement. The groups also questioned how the language distinguishes exercise sessions from dog parks, day-care operations and kennels. The proposal does not authorize those uses by name.
The Douglas County Health Department recommended that property owners develop animal-waste management plans covering collection, storage and disposal. County staff responded that existing regulations already require responsible handling of animal waste; the amendment would not add a specific waste standard.
The Planning Commission could recommend approval, approval with modifications, tabling for further study or denial. County materials list a Board of County Commissioners hearing for 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27.