Commerce City, CO Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Sec. 4-1001 defines "Commercial kennel" as an individual or establishment that keeps, maintains or owns animals for breeding, training, boarding, grooming, selling or similar purposes for a fee or other compensation, or where animals are offered for sale, adoption or exchange, so a stand-alone grooming shop or a groomer operating out of a home falls under the same license category as a boarding kennel. Sec. 4-3004 requires the operator to obtain an annual license from the city and pay a fee set by city council resolution, and the license issues only once the operator provides proof that the licensed address is zoned to allow a commercial kennel, or that a variance for that use has been obtained.

Sec. 4-3005 lets the city manager suspend or revoke the license if the licensee or the operation violates Chapter 4, zoning law, health law or any other applicable ordinance or statute, or if the operation is run in a way detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of nearby residents or of the animals in the groomer's care. A licensee facing suspension or revocation must be notified in writing of the grounds, by personal service, certified mail or posting, and may appeal to the city's administrative hearing officer under Chapter 3.

Because grooming is folded into the "commercial kennel" definition rather than given its own license category, a groomer that also boards or sells animals does not need a second, separate license.