Milwaukee, WI Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Under Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 78-11, no person may operate a grooming establishment without a permit from the Commissioner of Health. Grooming rooms need impervious, cleanable flooring disinfected daily; hair and manure must be removed daily and stored in tightly covered, waterproof containers; any bathtub used must be sized for the largest animal groomed and connected to an approved hot-and-cold water supply and sewer system. Animals can't be kept on-site outside regular business hours unless the location also holds a kennel or pet shop permit, and the premises must stay free of insect and rodent infestation and be run nuisance-free. Veterinary hospitals where grooming is incidental to treatment are exempt. The permit itself costs $150 per calendar year under § 60-43, with a $75 late fee for renewals filed on or after January 1 of the following year, and the permit must be posted where the public can see it per § 78-13.