Oneida, NY Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Chapter 17's definitions section, § 17-1, defines a 'grooming shop' as any commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked or otherwise groomed, and folds it into the broader category of 'commercial animal establishment' alongside pet shops, kennels, riding stables, zoological parks and circuses. Article III of the chapter regulates every one of those establishment types under a single permit scheme. Section 17-24 puts the City Clerk in charge of writing the permit regulations, which must require humane care of the animals on-site and compliance with the rest of Chapter 17 and other applicable law.

Section 17-25 is the operative rule: no person may operate a commercial animal establishment, including a grooming shop, without first obtaining a permit, and every separate facility needs its own individual permit, so a groomer running two locations in Oneida needs two permits. The permit year runs from January 1 through the end of the calendar year under § 17-27, with renewal applications due 30 days before and up to 60 days after that date; a brand-new shop can apply at any time. Section 17-28 sets an annual fee by Common Council resolution, last amended by Ord.

No. 12-10 in 2012, and exempts veterinary hospitals, animal shelters and government-run zoos from any fee. If ownership changes hands, § 17-29 lets the new owner transfer the existing permit for a $10 fee instead of starting over. The City Clerk can also inspect the shop and its animals at any time under § 17-30D, and can revoke the permit outright if the operator refuses that inspection.