San Diego County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- C34 General Commercial zone
- Permitted by right
- RC Residential/Commercial zone
- Needs Minor Use Permit
- Kennel incidental grooming
- Indoors, under 500 sq ft
- Enforcing agency
- Planning & Development Services
- Zoning violation penalty
- Up to $1,000 or 6 months jail
Summary
Pet grooming is its own zoning use type, 'Animal Sales and Services: Grooming,' under Zoning Ordinance Section 1425. It's permitted by right in C34 General Commercial zones but needs a Minor Use Permit in RC Residential/Commercial zones.
Animal Sales and Services: Grooming. Grooming of dogs, cats and similar small animals. Typical uses include dog bathing and clipping salons or pet grooming shops.
c. Animal Sales and Services: Horse Stables. Boarding, breeding, raising, rehabilitation, riding training or performing of horses for commercial purposes. This does not include the private use of horses owned by the owners or the occupants of the premises allowed under section 1725 Animal Raising, such as Horsekeeping. Typical uses include boarding stables or public stables.
d. Animal Sales and Services: Kennels. Kennel services for dogs, cats and similar small animals. Typical uses include boarding kennels, pet motels, dog daycare or dog training centers.
e. Animal Sales and Services: Stockyards. Stockyard services involving the temporary keeping of transient livestock for slaughter, market or shipping. Typical uses include stockyards or animal sales yards.
f. Animal Sales and Services: Veterinary (Large Animals). Veterinary services for large animals. Typical uses include animal hospitals (large animals) or veterinary hospitals (large animals). Boarding of animals or grooming of animals may be allowed as accessory to the veterinary use.
g. Animal Sales and Services: Veterinary (Small Animals). Veterinary services for small animals. Typical uses include pet clinics, dog and cat hospitals or animal hospitals (small animals). Boarding of animals or grooming of animals
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated San Diego County classifies dog and cat grooming as 'Animal Sales and Services: Grooming' under Zoning Ordinance Section 1425, covering dog bathing/clipping salons and pet grooming shops. Section 2342 permits the use outright in C34 General Commercial/Residential zones. In RC Residential/Commercial zones, Section 2264 instead requires a Minor Use Permit from Planning & Development Services before opening. Boarding kennels may add grooming as an incidental service under Section 3114(f), but it must be conducted indoors and stay under 500 square feet. Which rule applies depends on the parcel's zoning designator, so confirm it before signing a lease.
Violations & Fines
Running a grooming business in a zone that doesn't allow it, or without a required Minor Use Permit, is a Zoning Ordinance violation under Section 7703: a misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine) or an infraction with escalating fines up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a dog grooming shop in unincorporated San Diego County?
Does a boarding kennel need a separate permit to also offer grooming?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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