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Woodbridge, NJ Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Annual license fee
$150
Covers
mobile and stationary groomers
License expiration
every January 31
Sanitation standards
§ 11-6.8 facility rules
Max penalty
$500 fine or 90 days

Summary

Anyone operating a dog or cat grooming business in Woodbridge, mobile or stationary, needs a license from the Department of Health and Human Services before opening. Section 11-6.4 sets the annual fee at $150, separate from the $225 charged to kennels and pet shops, and the license expires every January 31 along with every other license issued under the chapter.

GROOMING ESTABLISHMENT Shall mean any facility, whether mobile or stationary that washes, clips or trims dogs and cats, but where such animals may or may not be kept overnight. [...] No person shall operate or maintain a kennel, pet shop, pound, shelter or grooming establishment without first obtaining a license. [...] The annual license fee for a grooming establishment shall be one hundred fifty ($150.00) dollars.

Full Breakdown

1 defines a grooming establishment as any facility, whether mobile or stationary, that washes, clips or trims dogs and cats, where such animals may or may not be kept overnight, folding both storefront groomers and mobile grooming vans into the same license class. 2, added by Ordinance No. 2017-37, makes it unlawful to operate or maintain a kennel, pet shop, pound, shelter or grooming establishment without first obtaining a license, and the application must show the Department of Health and Human Services that the premises comply with local and state sanitation rules, with blueprints of the site attached. e. 6. 8, including a minimum 55°F facility temperature, screened windows and doors, and enclosures built of light-colored, impervious, washable material.

Violations & Fines

Operating an unlicensed grooming establishment, or failing to meet the sanitation and facility standards of § 11-6.8, is punishable under § 11-6.20 by a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment up to ninety days, or both, with each day of continued operation a separate offense. The Municipal Council may also revoke the license after a hearing under § 11-6.19 on a Health Department recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a mobile dog grooming van need a Woodbridge license?
Yes. Section 11-6.1 defines a grooming establishment to include a facility that is mobile or stationary, so a grooming van working in Woodbridge needs the same license and pays the same $150 annual fee as a storefront groomer.
How much does a Woodbridge grooming license cost each year?
$150 under § 11-6.4.c, less than the $225 charged to kennels and pet shops. If the business also boards animals overnight, it is charged the higher $225 kennel or pet shop fee instead, per § 11-6.4.e.
What sanitation standards must a Woodbridge groomer meet?
Section 11-6.8 requires light-colored, impervious, washable surfaces in animal enclosures, running hot and cold water, a minimum 55°F indoor temperature, and screened, ventilated windows and doors so the premises stay free of insects and odors, subject to inspection by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sources & Official References

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