O'Fallon, MO Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing definition
- Section 400.035, "Pet Grooming Facility"
- Allowed without a permit
- Grooming, plus one supervised dog outside
- Requires a CUP
- Any pet boarding or kennel service
- MUTDD-specific rule
- Section 400.161 CUP for commercial animal boarding
- First violation fine
- $200, rising to $450 for repeats
Summary
O'Fallon's Zoning Code defines a 'pet grooming facility' as a business that provides hygienic care such as shampooing, brushing and trimming, and it allows a single dog under an individual's control to use supervised outside space. But the same definition draws a hard line: pet boarding or kennel operations at a grooming facility are prohibited unless the operator first obtains a conditional use permit.
PET GROOMING FACILITY: An establishment engaged in the business of providing hygienic care to animals (i.e., shampooing, brushing, trimming, etc.). A pet grooming facility may have supervised outside activities, which are defined as having a single animal under the physical control of an individual. Pet boarding/kennels are prohibited without the approval of a conditional use permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4860992; v58 updated 2026-05-14; through 05-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
' The same definition allows a groomer 'supervised outside activities, which are defined as having a single animal under the physical control of an individual,' so walking one dog at a time outdoors does not require separate approval. ' A groomer that wants to keep dogs overnight, rather than just clean and trim them during business hours, crosses into the separately defined boarding/kennel use and needs a CUP before doing so. 161 makes the same point from the other direction: 'commercial animal boarding,' which the Code says 'include[s] commercial kennels and commercial stables,' is listed as a use requiring its own conditional use permit, distinct from ordinary grooming.
325 lets the Commission and Council impose conditions on the permit, such as limits on hours, screening or capacity, and both bodies must offer an opportunity for citizen comment before deciding.
Violations & Fines
Adding boarding or kennel services to a grooming business without a conditional use permit is a zoning violation under Article XV of the Zoning Code. Section 400.655 caps fines at $200 for a first offense within twelve months, $275 for a second, $350 for a third, and $450 for a fourth or later offense, plus court costs, and adds a separate $250 civil penalty if the operator ignores a written order to correct the violation within ten days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an O'Fallon pet groomer board dogs overnight?
Does walking a dog outside the grooming shop need a permit?
Who approves the conditional use permit for boarding at a grooming business?
What is the penalty for boarding animals without the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in O'Fallon
Compare O'Fallon to another location·View the Missouri animal ordinances overview
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