Allegany County, MD Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Chapter 225, Animals, defines KENNEL in § 225-1 broadly enough to catch grooming: it is any establishment where a person, group or corporation "engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, grooming or selling dogs," in addition to any premises harboring five or more dogs over six months old for a business purpose, or offering more than one litter a year for sale. Because grooming is listed on its own, a stand-alone commercial dog-grooming shop qualifies as a kennel even if it never boards more than a couple of dogs overnight.

Section 225-19A requires anyone owning, operating or maintaining such a kennel to hold a current, valid kennel license, covering the whole "pack or collection of dogs kept on a single premises" under one tag; the license is due July 1 or when operations begin, with owner names recorded on the certificate and stub. Section 225-19C subjects any facility or clinic that houses animals three days or more to inspection once a complaint is received, and that complaint is forwarded to the Maryland Board of Veterinary Examiners.

Section 225-19D exempts veterinary hospitals or clinics, bona fide research facilities, and humane shelters or other animal establishments run by government or licensed under federal law from the kennel-licensing requirement, but a private grooming business does not fall into any of those carve-outs.