East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Baton Rouge/EBRP Code § 14:214(a) requires anyone operating an animal establishment to first obtain a permit from the Animal Control and Rescue Center, and Title 14's definitions section places grooming shops squarely inside that permit requirement: "Animal establishment" is defined as "a facility operated as a pet shop, grooming shop, private shelter, commercial or private kennel, boarding dogs or cats or training of dogs for any purpose," with an exemption only for shelters run by a public jurisdiction, veterinary medical facilities, accredited zoos, or accredited institutions of higher learning.

Under § 14:214(b), the director may adopt animal establishment regulations drawn from federal Animal Welfare Act standards, state statutes, or recognized bodies such as the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Humane Society of the United States, and under § 14:214(c) the director must give applicants a copy of those standards, which the applicant must acknowledge receiving on the application. The permit year runs from the date the director approves the application, and § 14:214(d) requires renewal applications to be filed no later than the day of the annual inspection, with the fee paid in cash, cashier's check, or money order to the Animal Control and Rescue Center.

00 per § 14:214(f), and an operator running more than one facility must hold a separate permit for each location. Section 14:214(g) requires the permit to be displayed in a conspicuous place visible to the public, and § 14:214(m) lets the director issue temporary permits, valid until the next annual inspection unless revoked, while inspections are underway.