Clayton County, GA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Hot water required
- 160°F minimum for cages
- Cage size rule
- room to stand, turn, stretch fully
- Vaccination rule
- required if animal over 3 months old
- Permit required from
- county animal control unit
- Fee exemption
- business-license holders skip extra permit fee
Summary
Pet shops may legally sell dogs, cats and other animals in unincorporated Clayton County, but only after obtaining an annual animal-establishment permit and meeting the county's hot-water, temperature and cage-size standards for the shop, and any dog or cat sold over three months old must already be vaccinated.
All pet shops, including pet shops operated in conjunction with another holding facility, shall in addition to the other requirements of this chapter comply with the minimum standards of this section. Failure to meet these standards shall be grounds for denial of a permit or revocation of a permit. Standards for pet shops are as follows: (1)Water. There shall be available hot water at a minimum temperature of 160 degrees for washing cages and disinfecting, and cold water easily accessible to all parts of the shop. Fresh water for consumption shall be available to all species of animals at all times. Containers are to be cleaned and disinfected each day. (2)Room temperature. The room temperature of the shop shall be maintained at a level that is healthful for every species of animal kept in the shop. (3)Cages and enclosures. All cages and enclosures are to be of a nonporous material for easy cleaning and disinfecting. Each cage must be of sufficient size that the animal will have room to stand, turn and stretch out to such animal's full length.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104).
Full Breakdown
Clayton County does not ban retail sale of dogs and cats: a licensed pet shop can sell them, subject to the standards in Sec. 14-196 and the vaccination rule in Sec. 14-194. Every pet shop must supply hot water of at least 160 degrees for washing cages and disinfecting plus easily accessible cold water, keep drinking-water containers cleaned and disinfected daily, hold room temperature at a level healthful for every species on hand, and use cages made of nonporous material large enough for the animal to stand, turn and stretch to full length (14-196(1)-(3)).
Failure to meet those standards is grounds for the county to deny or revoke the shop's permit. Before any dog or cat over three months old can be sold, traded or given away, it must already be vaccinated as required by the chapter (Sec. 14-194(a)); the animal control unit can inspect the premises and every animal at any reasonable time during business hours to check compliance. Separately, Sec. 14-191(f) makes it unlawful to sell, barter, or gratuitously distribute any animal, fowl or reptile in a public place, including commercial areas and roadways, without a license or permit, though giving away pets from a private residence is expressly carved out.
A pet shop that already pays a business license fee is exempt from the extra animal-establishment permit fee under Sec. 14-201(a) but must show proof of the current license when it applies.
Violations & Fines
Selling animals in violation of Sec. 14-196's standards is grounds for permit denial or revocation under Sec. 14-193(a), which lets the county set a removal deadline for the animals and impound them if the owner misses it (14-193(b)). Selling or bartering an animal in a public place without any permit at all violates Sec. 14-191(f). Selling an unvaccinated dog or cat over three months old breaches Sec. 14-194(a).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pet store in Clayton County sell puppies and kittens?
Does Clayton County require adoption-only pet stores?
Can a pet shop legally sell an unvaccinated puppy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clayton County
Compare Clayton County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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