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

Section 9.87.A of the Martin County Code of Ordinances sets minimum care standards for 'pet stores, pet dealers, grooming establishments and kennels located in, or engaging in business in Martin County.' Each establishment must meet local fire and zoning safety requirements and post a fire-evacuation diagram in a prominent location, keep a working telephone available for emergencies with the establishment's veterinarian's phone number posted, and maintain a backup veterinarian contact. A protective barrier at least three feet high must separate the public from animal cages, and animals may only be brought to a designated 'get acquainted' area by a staff member, not handled directly by customers at the enclosure.

The section also imposes daily-care mandates: animal areas must be lighted at least eight hours a day corresponding to natural daylight, water free of debris must be accessible at all times unless a vet directs otherwise in writing, food must be stored in sealed, pest-resistant containers, and animals fed at least once daily. Shelter and housing must be cleaned at least daily, with excrement spot-cleaned throughout the day and garbage disposed of daily in lidded cans. Section 9.87.A.15 requires separation rules: females in season kept apart from males except for planned breeding, puppies and kittens housed apart from unrelated adult dogs or cats, and dogs never housed with cats or other species. Establishments must maintain a written disaster plan on the premises under section 9.87.A.17.

Grooming establishments and the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast are the only entities exempted from the three-foot barrier requirement of section 9.87.A.4, per section 9.87.G. The County retains authority under section 9.87.C to obtain a second veterinary opinion at the establishment's expense for any animal that appears to need care, and every establishment is subject to unannounced inspection by the Animal Services Unit under section 9.87.E.