Anne Arundel County, MD Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail sale ban
- None: sale of dogs/cats is legal
- Governing provision
- County Code § 12-4-805
- Sale reporting
- Report buyer name/address within 2 weeks
- Cage standard
- Nonporous, sized to stand and stretch out
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Animal Services
Summary
Anne Arundel County does not ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats: retailers must meet care standards under Code § 12-4-805 and report every sale to Animal Services within two weeks.
The operator of a pet shop or a grooming parlor shall provide: (1) water at a minimum temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit for washing and disinfecting cages, or another approved method of disinfecting; (2) cages or enclosures, made of nonporous material, that are of sufficient size to allow each animal to stand up, turn around, and stretch out to its full length, and maintained in a sanitary condition with sufficient clean, dry bedding for each animal.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Anne Arundel County has no ordinance banning the retail sale of dogs and cats or requiring pet shops to source only from shelters and rescues. County Code § 12-4-805 sets minimum care standards for any pet shop or grooming parlor: sanitary, nonporous cages large enough for the animal to stand, turn, and stretch out; disinfecting water at 180 degrees Fahrenheit; fresh water and daily food. Under § 12-4-911, a licensed pet shop must report to the Department of Animal Services, in writing, the name and address of everyone who buys or receives a dog within two weeks of the sale.
Violations & Fines
Failing to meet the § 12-4-805 care standards or to report dog sales under § 12-4-911 can bring license suspension, revocation, or civil enforcement by the Department of Animal Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pet stores in Anne Arundel County sell dogs and cats?
Do pet shops have to tell the County who buys a dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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