Palatine, IL Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Section 6.04 of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A) sorts home occupations into three buckets: those affirmatively permitted in subsection (a), those flatly banned in subsection (b), and 'other' occupations in subsection (c) that get approved case-by-case if they meet the standards in subsection (d). 'Animal grooming establishment' sits in the banned list at § 6.04(b)(1), alongside barber shop, beauty parlor, clinic or hospital, commercial stable, and kennel, meaning it never qualifies for the discretionary 'other home occupation' review that a less-defined business might receive. Practically, that means a resident cannot operate a dog- or cat-grooming service out of a house or garage in any residential district, regardless of client volume, hours, or whether the work is confined indoors.

A groomer has to locate in a business or manufacturing district where the use is permitted or approved as a special use, and separately obtain a Village of Palatine business license, since § 6.04(d)(11) requires a business license for any home occupation that is otherwise allowed, underscoring how tightly the Village tracks in-home commercial animal services. Because grooming is grouped with kennels and commercial stables rather than with pet-sitting or dog walking, the ordinance draws its line at facilities that board, wash, or process animals on-site.

Planning and Zoning Division staff review home-occupation complaints and can require a use to cease if it matches a listed prohibited category, without needing to weigh the case-by-case factors that apply to occupations not named in the list.