St. Tammany Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- animal establishment permit before operating
- Annual fee
- $250.00
- Zoning
- must also comply with zoning/land use rules
- Inspections
- animal control officers may enter at reasonable hours
- Cure period
- 14 days' written notice before penalty
- Violation fine
- $100.00-$500.00 via administrative hearing
Summary
Any grooming shop operating in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish needs an animal establishment permit from the parish department of animal services before it can bathe, clip or pluck a single animal. Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-642 defines "grooming shop" and requires zoning compliance, while Sec. 10-668 sets the $250 annual permit fee and inspection regime that applies to it.
Grooming shop means a commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked or otherwise groomed. Grooming shops must be in compliance with all applicable zoning, land use and permit regulations, and must obtain a permit. ... (a)(6)The annual permit fee shall be $250.00. A report of the number of animals bred the prior year is also required along with the annual permit fee. (7)A permit shall be required for all commercial kennels/breeders, public kennels, private kennels, pet shop, grooming shop, or where an owner has more than five animals, excluding livestock, over four months of age.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
" Section 10-668 folds grooming shops into the parish's broader "animal establishment" permitting scheme alongside commercial kennels/breeders, public and private kennels, and pet shops. 00, plus file a yearly report of any animals bred on-site. Parish animal control officers may enter the shop at reasonable hours to inspect for compliance, and the shop must display its permit conspicuously where the public can see it. If an inspection turns up violations, the department gives 14 days' written notice to come into compliance before it can pursue removal of animals, a hearing before the bureau of administrative adjudication, or a misdemeanor summons; extensions are available for good cause.
A denied applicant cannot reapply for 30 days, and a shop must also microchip any animal it handles that is six months or older, keep sick or injured animals separated from healthy ones, and never knowingly offer a diseased animal for sale.
Violations & Fines
A grooming shop found out of compliance gets 14 days' written notice to fix the problem before the department can remove animals, refer the case to the bureau of administrative adjudication, or issue a misdemeanor summons. A hearing officer who finds an ongoing violation can order a fine of $100.00 to $500.00 plus the parish's enforcement, boarding and care costs, and a denied or revoked applicant must wait 30 days before reapplying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to open a dog grooming shop in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish?
What happens if a grooming shop fails an animal control inspection?
Does a grooming shop have to microchip the animals it grooms?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana animal ordinances overview
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