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Collier County, FL Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing law
Collier County Code Sec. 14-79(D)
Water rule
tepid only, never cold, for washing
Towels
separate, clean towel per animal
Equipment
sanitized after every grooming
Bathtubs
sanitized, kept free of mold/mildew
First citation fine
$250, up to $475

Summary

Collier County's animal-related business standards set specific sanitation rules for every commercial groomer under Code Sec. 14-79(D): equipment must be sanitized after each animal, tubs kept free of mold, and tepid, never cold, water used to bathe dogs and cats. Groomers also carry the chapter's general business duties: a posted permit, written disaster plan and two years of animal records.

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

D.Groomers.1.Clippers, combs, brushes and any other equipment shall be sanitized after each animal grooming.2.Animals shall not be left unattended while tethered to grooming stations.3.Clean, separate drying towels shall be used for each individual animal groomed.4.Tepid water must be used for the purpose of washing dogs and cats. Cold water is not acceptable.5.Grooming bathtubs shall be sanitized after each animal grooming. Grooming bathtubs shall be maintained free of mold and mildew.6.Clippers, dryers, combs, brushes and any other grooming equipment shall be maintained in good repair so that they are appropriate for the intended safe use per the manufacturers' or suppliers' instructions.

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 126 | Land Development Code: Supplement 33).

Full Breakdown

Section 14-79 covers every animal-related business or organization, and its Groomers subsection layers five specific duties on top: clippers, combs, brushes and other equipment must be sanitized after each animal groomed; animals cannot be left tethered to a grooming station unattended; each animal gets its own clean, separate drying towel; only tepid water may be used to wash dogs and cats, never cold; and grooming bathtubs must be sanitized after each use and kept free of mold and mildew, with clippers, dryers, combs and brushes maintained in good working repair per the manufacturer's instructions.

Groomers also fall under the chapter's general business standards: a current county animal-services operational permit must be displayed prominently, emergency contact information posted at the entrance, a written disaster and evacuation plan posted on site, a working telephone available at all times with the establishment's veterinarian's number posted, and adequate rodent and insect control maintained. Any obvious neglect or abuse discovered on an animal in the groomer's care must be reported to Animal Services, whose phone number must also be posted. Records on every animal in a groomer's care, health treatments administered, an owner's contact and veterinarian information, and a signed medical release, must be kept for two years and produced to an inspecting officer on request.

Violations & Fines

Groomers are Animal-Related Businesses under Chapter 14, so a Sec. 14-79 violation runs through the Sec. 14-40 penalty schedule: a Notice to Comply giving fifteen days to fix the condition, then a civil citation of $250 for a first offense, $350 for a second and $475 for a third or later offense, capped at $500 per day per animal, plus the $5 and $2 administrative surcharges on each citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sanitation rules apply to dog groomers in Collier County?
Under Code Sec. 14-79(D), clippers, combs and brushes must be sanitized after every animal, grooming bathtubs sanitized and kept mold-free, a fresh towel used per animal, and only tepid water, never cold, for washing dogs and cats. Equipment also has to stay in good working repair to the manufacturer's specifications, and animals can't be left tethered to a station unattended.
Does a groomer need a county permit?
Yes. As an animal-related business under Chapter 14, a groomer must prominently display a current Animal Services operational permit, post emergency contact information at the entrance, keep a written disaster plan on site, and maintain a working phone with its veterinarian's number posted, alongside the grooming-specific sanitation rules.
What happens if a Collier County groomer doesn't sanitize equipment between pets?
It's a Sec. 14-79(D) violation enforced under the county's animal-business penalty schedule: a Notice to Comply first, giving fifteen days to fix the condition, then citations starting at $250 for a first offense and rising to $475 for a third or later offense, plus the mandatory surcharges, with each day and each animal counted as a separate violation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Collier County

All Collier County rules

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