St. Peters, MO Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

City Code Section 205.010 defines a GROOMING SHOP OR PARLOR as 'any establishment or place where animals are bathed and/or groomed for a fee,' and Section 205.100(A)(3) lists grooming shops among the activities that count as a 'commercial animal establishment' requiring a City license, the same category that covers kennels, pet shops, animal shelters, riding stables and zoological parks. The license costs seventy-five dollars ($75.00) a year under Subsection G(10), runs on a January 1 to December 31 term, and each separately licensed activity needs its own individual license under Subsection H, so a business that both grooms and boards animals needs a license for each function.

Before the City issues the license, Subsection C requires a criminal history record information background check no more than six months old, and Subsection D routes the application through the City Clerk to the Chief of Police for a recommendation on the applicant's good moral character as defined in Section 605.001. Once operating, Subsection B holds the grooming shop to the same sanitation standard as every other commercial animal establishment in St. Peters: cages and holding areas must be kept clean and disease-free, made of stainless steel, fiberglass or plastic rather than wood, and any animal with a disease or parasite infestation must be pulled from handling until a veterinarian confirms it is clear. Subsection K makes operating a grooming shop without first securing the license an ordinance violation on its own, separate from any sanitation issue.