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Lubbock, TX Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Classified as
Animal establishment under § 4.01.001
Permit required from
Director of Animal Services
Pet grooming permit fee
$35.00 annually
General establishment permit fee
$100.00 annually
Display requirement
Permit shown prominently at all times
Inspections
Any reasonable hour, on request

Summary

Lubbock treats a pet grooming facility as an animal establishment under Code of Ordinances § 4.01.001, meaning it must hold an annual animal establishment permit from the director of animal services before operating. The permit costs $35.00 and the business must display it prominently and submit to inspection at any reasonable hour.

(a) All animal establishments and animal dealers, as defined herein, shall, in addition to the other requirements of this chapter, comply with the minimum standards of this section. Persons wishing to operate an animal establishment or to become an animal dealer within the city must apply in writing to the director of animal services who will issue a permit if all of the state and federal requirements are met. (b) It shall be a violation for any business or person to sell, offer for sale, give away, offer to give away, or otherwise transfer ownership of any animal without first obtaining an animal establishment or animal dealer permit, unless such activity is authorized by some other section of this chapter. … (d) Failure to meet these standards, or violating this chapter in any other way, shall be grounds for the issuance of a citation subjecting the owner to penalties provided in this chapter, and/or revocation of the owner's animal establishment or animal dealer permit at the director of animal services discretion.

Source: Lubbock Planning DepartmentView official code

Full Breakdown

001, defines an animal establishment as any facility or business that has custody or control of animals, expressly including pet grooming facilities, pet shops, animal auction facilities, and commercial kennels, while excluding veterinary and medical facilities. 001, every animal establishment must be built and operated in conformance with the general design standards, specifications and operating procedures the city health board has adopted by reference, with copies on file with the city secretary and the health department for public inspection. 004 requires anyone wanting to operate an animal establishment to apply in writing to the director of animal services, who issues the permit once state and federal requirements are met; operating without first obtaining that permit is itself a violation.

00. 005 further requires every commercial establishment to prominently display its current permit in a public area at all times. Permit holders must make their animals, premises, facilities, equipment, and permits available for inspection by the department on request during regular business hours, or at any other reasonable hour.

Violations & Fines

Operating a grooming business without the permit, or failing to meet the adopted design and operating standards, is grounds for a citation under § 4.05.004(d), and the director of animal services may revoke the establishment's permit at his discretion in addition to any citation. Refusing an inspection request from the department is a separate violation under §§ 4.05.004(c) and 4.05.005(b).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pet groomers need a permit to operate in Lubbock?
Yes. A grooming shop meets the code's definition of an animal establishment under § 4.01.001, so § 4.05.004 requires the owner to apply in writing to the director of animal services and hold a current permit before operating.
How much does a pet grooming facility permit cost in Lubbock?
The fee schedule at § 4.02.041(a)(7) sets the pet grooming facility permit at $35.00 per year, separate from the $100.00 general animal establishment, pet shop, or animal dealer permit fee.
Can Animal Services inspect a grooming business without notice?
Section 4.05.004(c) lets the department request access to the premises, animals, equipment and permits at any reasonable hour to check compliance, and refusing that request is itself a violation of the chapter.
What happens if a groomer operates without displaying the permit?
Section 4.05.005 requires every commercial establishment to prominently display its current permit in a public area at all times; failing to do so, or operating without the underlying permit, can lead to a citation and possible revocation under § 4.05.004(d).

Sources & Official References

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