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Mendocino County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 10.12.010(I)(6) licensing infraction
Definition
§ 10.04.074(B): bathing, clipping, plucking animals
Zoning use type
§ 20.024.020(B) Animal Sales and Services
Penalty
Infraction; fee set by Board of Supervisors
Enforcing agency
Animal Care Services / Sheriff's Animal Control

Summary

Mendocino County requires every grooming shop or parlor to hold a valid license before opening, treating unlicensed pet-grooming businesses the same as unlicensed kennels or pet shops. Operating without one is an infraction under County Code Section 10.12.010, and groomers also fall under the zoning code's Animal Sales and Services use category, which needs planning approval in most commercial districts.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Mendocino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(6)It is an infraction to possess, own, keep or harbor any unlicensed dog or to maintain, conduct, or cause to be operated any unlicensed kennel, grooming shop/parlor, pet shop, commercial kennel and profit or nonprofit dog adoption agency.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).

Full Breakdown

074(B) defines a 'grooming shop/parlor' as a commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise conditioned. 010(I)(6) makes it an infraction to operate an unlicensed grooming shop/parlor, placing it in the same licensing category as an unlicensed kennel, pet shop, commercial kennel, or dog adoption agency. 12, with license periods and fee schedules set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. 020(B) of the Mendocino County Zoning Code classifies retail sales and grooming of dogs, cats, birds, fish, and similar household pets as 'Animal Sales and Services: Household Pets,' listing dog bathing and clipping salons and pet grooming shops as typical uses.

That use type must be permitted or conditionally permitted in the applicable zoning district before Planning and Building Services will sign off. 020, which additionally requires a Treasurer-Tax Collector business license. Enforcement of the Title 10 licensing rule falls to Animal Care Services and the Sheriff's Office Animal Control division, the same agencies that issue and check dog and kennel licenses countywide.

Violations & Fines

Operating a grooming shop or parlor without a license is an infraction under Section 10.12.010(I)(6), enforced by Animal Care Services and Sheriff's Office Animal Control. Fines and license fees are set by Board of Supervisors resolution rather than fixed in the code itself. A business that skips required zoning approval for the 'Animal Sales and Services: Household Pets' use risks a separate zoning enforcement action from Planning and Building Services, independent of any animal-control citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mendocino County require a license to run a pet grooming business?
Yes. Section 10.12.010(I)(6) of the County Code makes it an infraction to operate an unlicensed grooming shop or parlor, the same standard applied to unlicensed kennels, pet shops, and commercial kennels. The license is issued through the County's animal licensing program under Chapter 10.12, with fees and license periods set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors rather than fixed dollar amounts in the ordinance itself.
What counts as a 'grooming shop or parlor' under county law?
Section 10.04.074(B) defines it as any commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise conditioned. That definition covers standalone grooming salons as well as grooming services offered inside a pet store, and it is treated the same as a kennel or pet shop for licensing purposes under Chapter 10.12.
Do I also need zoning approval to open a grooming shop?
Yes. Section 20.024.020(B) of the Zoning Code classifies pet grooming as an 'Animal Sales and Services: Household Pets' use, alongside pet stores and dog bathing and clipping salons. That use must be allowed outright or by permit in your zoning district before Planning and Building Services will approve the business, separate from the Chapter 10.12 animal-control license.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Mendocino County

Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsChickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsPet LimitsSome RestrictionsMandatory Spay/NeuterSome RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsMicrochippingSome RestrictionsCat RulesLight RestrictionsExotic PetsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSome RestrictionsOutdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & ShieldingSome Restrictions

All Mendocino County rules

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