Yellowstone County, MT Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Section
- Zoning Code § 27-1009.M.4(e)
- Rule
- grooming, breeding, boarding barred as home occupations
- Exception
- none, unlike the auto-repair exclusion
- Private kennel
- still allowed separately under § 27-1009.N
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, fine or up to 6 months jail
Summary
Yellowstone County's zoning code will not approve pet grooming, breeding, or boarding as a home occupation anywhere in the unincorporated county. Section 27-1009.M.4(e) lists 'uses involving the grooming, breeding, or boarding of animals' among the home-based businesses the Planning Division rejects outright.
4. Prohibited Uses The following types of uses will not be approved as home occupations:
(a) Uses involving large or oversized goods or materials; ... (e) Uses involving the grooming, breeding, or boarding of animals.
Full Breakdown
M of the Zoning Code, Article 27-1000, Uses and Use Standards. 1 lays out the general conditions every home occupation must meet in unincorporated Yellowstone County: work confined to the dwelling or an accessory building, no signage, no non-resident employees, floor area capped at 500 square feet or 25 percent of the building footprint, and no exterior evidence that the property is anything but a residence. 4 then names specific business types that will never qualify, no matter how small: item (e) covers uses involving the grooming, breeding, or boarding of animals.
Unlike the auto-repair exclusion in the same subsection, the grooming/breeding/boarding bar carries no mobile-service exception, so a resident cannot bathe, clip, or board other people's pets for pay out of a home in the unincorporated area and call it a home occupation. 4 exclusion list. Anyone wanting to run a grooming or boarding business must locate it in a district where kennels or commercial animal services are separately permitted.
Violations & Fines
Running an unapproved grooming, breeding, or boarding business from a residence violates the Zoning Code's Article 27-1700. Under Section 27-1704.G, Yellowstone County treats any Zoning Code violation, including an unauthorized home occupation, as a misdemeanor: a fine up to the state statutory limit, up to six months in jail, or both, plus costs, with each day counted as a separate offense; the Zoning Coordinator can order the use stopped under Section 27-1704.E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I groom dogs for clients at my house in unincorporated Yellowstone County?
Does the ban also cover boarding a few dogs overnight for pay?
Is a private outdoor kennel for my own pets affected by this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yellowstone County
Compare Yellowstone County to another location·View the Montana animal ordinances overview
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