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

010 makes it unlawful to own or operate a pet grooming parlor, along with a commercial kennel, pet shop, public aquarium, equine rental facility, cattery or protection dog facility, without first getting a license from the Director of Animal Control. The application passes through both the Department of Planning and Building and the Public Health Division before Animal Control investigates and issues it, and it is marked 'NOT APPROVED' with the reasons listed if the plan doesn't conform to County law. 025 then sets the operating standards specific to grooming: scissors, combs, brushes and clippers must be disinfected with a germ-killing agent between every animal, with the disinfectant left on as long as the manufacturer's instructions specify before rinsing; hair must be cleaned up and the area disinfected after each animal; wash areas, tables, washbasins and tubs must be washed and disinfected between animals; electric clippers must be alternated between animals or swapped every 20 minutes, or whenever they get too warm, to avoid burning the animal; and no animal may be left unattended on a grooming table.

Overnight boarding at a grooming establishment needs its own separate permit, and pet shops with grooming areas need a separate grooming permit with the grooming space kept apart from the animals-for-sale area and never used to isolate sick animals. Mobile groomers must follow the same rules. The Division of Animal Control can inspect at any time to check compliance, and noncompliance can mean a citation or revocation of the operating permit.