Walton County, GA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Use classification
- Pet Care Services / Kennels, Commercial (NAICS 812910)
- Permitted districts
- A, B1, B2, B3, TC only
- Minimum lot size
- 2 acres (Sec. 6-1-470)
- Animal building setback
- 100 feet side/rear
- Home occupation status
- Kennels barred from home occupations
Summary
Unincorporated Walton County classifies pet grooming as a "Pet Care Services" use, folded into the Kennels, Commercial category (NAICS 812910) in the Land Development Ordinance's use table. That table permits the use only in the Agricultural (A) district and the B1, B2, B3 and Town Center business districts, triggering the supplemental standards in Section 6-1-470.
Pet Care Services: This use comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing pet care services (except veterinary), such as boarding, grooming, sitting, and training pets. See also kennel, commercial. ... Section 6-1-470 - Kennel, Commercial (20) A.The lot size shall be no less than two (2) acres.B.Any building or enclosed structures for the housing of animals shall have minimum side and rear setbacks of at least one hundred (100) feet.C.All areas maintaining animals outside shall be completely enclosed by walls or fences at least six (6) feet in height, and shall be located no closer than two hundred (200) feet from property lines or street right-of-way.D.No commercial kennel shall be located within five hundred (500) feet of a residential district.
Full Breakdown
The Land Development Ordinance defines "Pet Care Services" as establishments providing boarding, grooming, sitting and training pets (except veterinary care) and directs users to the "kennel, commercial" classification. In the Section 5-1-100 Table of Permitted and Conditional Uses, that classification appears as NAICS code 812910, "Kennels, Commercial," marked "Yes" in the Supplemental Regulations column and permitted ("P") only in the A Agricultural district and the B1 Neighborhood Business, B2 Highway Business, B3 General Business and TC Town Center districts; it is not listed as permitted, accessory or conditional in any residential district (A1, A2, R1, R2, R3 or MHP).
Because Supplemental Regulations is marked "Yes," a pet care/kennel operation must also satisfy Section 6-1-470, which sets a two-acre minimum lot, a 100-foot side and rear setback for any building housing animals, a six-foot enclosure for outdoor animal areas set back 200 feet from property lines or right-of-way, and a 500-foot buffer from any residential district. Separately, Section 6-1-420's Home Occupation rules bar "kennels" outright from the list of allowed home-based businesses, so a grooming or boarding operation cannot be run out of a residence as a home occupation in Walton County; it must locate on a qualifying commercial or agricultural parcel. Planning and Development's Zoning Division reviews site plans against these standards before issuing a certificate of occupancy for the use.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pet care/kennel use on unpermitted land, or running one from a home under the home-occupation exemption, violates Article 15 of the Land Development Ordinance. Under Section 15-1-140, a conviction carries a minimum $100 fine, imprisonment, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; the Director may also issue a stop-work order and revoke the underlying occupational tax certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a pet grooming business from my Walton County home?
Which zoning districts allow a pet grooming or boarding business?
What lot and setback rules apply to a commercial kennel or pet care facility?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Walton County
Compare Walton County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.