Catoosa County, GA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Location rule
- Grooming must occur inside the dwelling unit
- Floor area cap
- 30 percent of principal building's floor area
- License
- Catoosa County business license required
- Employees
- Up to two additional employees during business hours
- Prohibited related use
- Kennels and veterinary services barred as home occupations
Summary
Unincorporated Catoosa County allows pet grooming as a home occupation, but only if every grooming service happens inside the dwelling unit itself. The Unified Development Code caps the occupation at 30 percent of the home's floor area, requires a Catoosa County business license, and limits outdoor advertising displays. Kennels, indoor or outdoor, are separately banned as home occupations.
A.Generally.1)A home occupation is permissible in a lawfully established dwelling unit in any zoning district where residential uses are permissible. All home occupations shall meet the standards set forth in Section 5.02.02(C). ... e.Pet grooming provided that services are performed inside the dwelling unit; ... 1)Location. Except for permissible outdoor instructional services the use shall be carried on wholly within the principal building. ... 2)Size. ... Not more than 30 percent of the floor area of the principal building shall be used for the conduct of the home occupation. ... 10)Business License Required. All home occupations shall have a business license from Catoosa County.
Full Breakdown
Under Section 5.02.02(A) of the Unified Development Code, a home occupation is permissible in a lawfully established dwelling in any zoning district where residential use is allowed, and pet grooming is expressly listed among the permitted home occupations, but only "provided that services are performed inside the dwelling unit." That single condition rules out grooming conducted in a detached shed, garage, mobile trailer, or outdoors on the property; the animal has to be groomed inside the house itself, not just on the lot. The same section separately bans "veterinarian" and "kennels (indoor and outdoor)" as home occupations, so a groomer who also boards animals overnight crosses into a use the county treats differently and does not permit under this provision.
Section 5.02.02(C) layers on the general home-occupation standards that apply to every approved use, including grooming: no more than 30 percent of the principal building's floor area can be used for the business, no merchandise or signage can be visible from outside the dwelling beyond a single 2-square-foot, non-illuminated nameplate set back 20 feet from any property line, only one commercial vehicle is allowed and it must be parked in the driveway, garage, or carport, and no more than two additional employees can be on site during operating hours.
Every home occupation, grooming included, must carry a business license issued by Catoosa County, and the Zoning Administrator can act on nuisance complaints tied to noise, odor, or traffic generated by the business.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home grooming business outside the dwelling, exceeding the 30 percent floor-area cap, or running it without a Catoosa County business license puts the operation outside Section 5.02.02 and exposes it to enforcement as a zoning violation, the same track the UDC uses for any unpermitted home occupation. The Zoning Administrator can issue a notice of violation and require the business to shut down or relocate to a properly zoned commercial site until it complies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a pet grooming business from my home in unincorporated Catoosa County?
How much of my house can I use for the grooming business?
Can I also board animals overnight as part of my grooming business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Catoosa County
Compare Catoosa County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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