Baltimore County, MD Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

6 folds animal grooming facilities into Baltimore County's holding-facility licensing scheme, requiring the operator to comply with the minimum standards set for holding facilities in § 12-6-103 of the Baltimore County Code. Those minimum standards require sufficient food and clean, tip-proof water containers; clean and sanitary quarters with floors and walls that can be properly cleaned and disinfected, using wash water at a minimum 180 degrees Fahrenheit; adequate ventilation and temperature control; construction that prevents animal escape while protecting the public; a cage large enough for an animal to stand, turn, and stretch to its full length; regular exercise appropriate to the animal's age and species; and isolation plus veterinary care for any sick or injured animal.

Because grooming facilities are treated as holding facilities, they must carry a current license from the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, with fees set by the County Administrative Officer, and must post that license conspicuously on-site. 7 imposes a use-compatibility standard specific to zoning: a grooming facility 'may not be noxious, offensive or otherwise objectionable to surrounding residential uses,' a limit the Zoning Commissioner can apply when granting or conditioning a use permit or special exception for the site.