Franklin County, NC Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Under UDC Section 5.3.10, home occupations are accessory uses limited to a specific list, and item ix names 'pet grooming services without the boarding of animals or operation of kennels,' adding that the outside containment of animals is prohibited. That means a groomer can bathe, clip and style animals at a residence in unincorporated Franklin County, but cannot keep pets overnight, run a boarding kennel, or leave animals in an outdoor pen or run between appointments. The same section's general limitations apply on top of that: no outdoor storage of materials, no exterior display connected to the business, the operation capped at 25% of the dwelling's floor area or 500 square feet, only one non-resident employee, and no mechanical equipment beyond normal domestic use that would cause noise or interference.

A single non-lighted, flush-mounted sign of up to four square feet is the only signage allowed. Before grooming for pay, the operator must secure a home occupation permit issued by the Administrator; the county's Animal Services division separately enforces the county's animal ordinances in Chapter 6, including rabies and cruelty provisions, if animals on-site are mistreated or left outdoors in violation of the containment ban. Violating the home occupation limits is enforced under UDC Section 3.4.2: the Administrator may deny or revoke permits, issue a civil citation of up to $500 with ten days to pay or correct, and each day the violation continues is treated as an additional violation, alongside potential Class 3 misdemeanor criminal liability.