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

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

Key Facts

Grooming only (no boarding)
No commercial facility permit required
Grooming shop that boards
Treated as commercial animal facility
Permit decision timeline
30 working days after complete application
Inspection frequency
At least once per year (§7.08.045)
Permit issuance after approval
Within 48 hours (§7.08.040(D))

Summary

Kern County doesn't license a grooming shop that only bathes, clips, or plucks animals. But Section 7.08.015(Y) flips the moment a groomer boards pets overnight: a grooming shop that boards animals is reclassified as a "commercial animal facility," pulling it into the annual permit, application, and inspection scheme set out in Section 7.08.040.

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

Y."Grooming shop" means a business enterprise where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise groomed. A grooming shop that boards animals shall be considered as a commercial animal facility for permitting, inspection, and enforcement actions pursuant to this code. ... A. No person shall own, operate, conduct or maintain a commercial animal facility without first having obtained a permit as prescribed by the director.

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 59 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

015(V) even excludes a groomer "engaged in the regular practice of this business" from the general "owner" definition that otherwise attaches after fifteen days of custody. 040(A) before operating, paying an annual fee set by the board of supervisors' fee schedule. 040(A)(2). 040(D). 045(A) then requires the department to inspect the permitted premises at least once a year, and more often if needed, during business hours. 040(B).

Violations & Fines

Operating a boarding grooming shop without first obtaining the commercial animal facility permit violates Section 7.08.040(A)'s requirement to obtain a permit "before" operating. The director can also suspend or revoke an existing permit under Section 7.08.040(F) if the facility becomes a nuisance, including from noise or odor, with the suspension taking effect ten days after written notice unless the operator appeals to the administrative review board. Kern County Code Section 1.12.030 makes any act the county code declares unlawful a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, unless the chapter sets its own infraction penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a dog groomer need a county permit in unincorporated Kern County?
Not for grooming alone. Section 7.08.015(Y) defines a grooming shop as a business that bathes, clips, or otherwise grooms animals, and Section 7.08.015(V) exempts a groomer engaged in the regular practice of that business from the county's general "owner" definition, so a pure grooming operation carries no separate commercial animal facility permit.
What changes if my grooming shop also boards pets overnight?
Boarding triggers reclassification. Section 7.08.015(Y) states that "a grooming shop that boards animals shall be considered as a commercial animal facility for permitting, inspection, and enforcement actions," which means you must obtain the annual permit required by Section 7.08.040 before offering boarding.
How often will the county inspect a boarding grooming shop?
Section 7.08.045(A) requires the animal control department to inspect a permitted commercial animal facility at least once a year during business hours, and it may inspect more frequently if there is a concern, at no separate charge unless additional enforcement services are needed.
Can the county revoke my grooming/boarding permit?
Yes. Section 7.08.040(F) lets the director suspend or revoke the permit if conditions aren't maintained or the facility becomes a nuisance, including noise or odor complaints. The revocation takes effect ten days after written notice unless you file an appeal with the administrative review board within that window.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kern County

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All Kern County rules

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