Santa Clara County, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- pet shops, kennels, groomers, shelters
- Requirement
- annual County permit
- No sale ban
- retail sales not prohibited
- Fee waiver
- nonprofit rescue/school programs
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires any pet shop, kennel, grooming parlor or animal shelter to hold a County permit before operating; the code doesn't ban retail pet sales outright.
No person shall conduct, operate or keep any pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, pet grooming parlor, animal menagerie or animal shelter within unincorporated Santa Clara County without first obtaining an appropriate permit from the Manager, and subject to the provisions of the County Zoning Ordinance. The annual permit fee for the above animal facilities shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. However, the Manager of Animal Care and Control shall waive the fee for an animal establishment providing non-profit search and rescue service and non-profit activities in hospitals and schools.
(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)
Sec. B31-71. - Application for permit. An application for a permit to operate and keep a pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, pet grooming parlor, animal menagerie, or animal shelter shall be in writing on a form approved by the Manager. The applicant shall furnish a list of the types of animals to be maintained or used for any purpose, together with the approximate number of animals of each type.
(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)
Sec. B31-72. - Regulations and standards.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
The County doesn't impose a puppy-mill sale ban or adoption-only mandate on pet retailers; instead, Section B31-70 requires anyone operating a pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, pet grooming parlor, animal menagerie or animal shelter in unincorporated Santa Clara County to first get a permit from the Manager of Animal Care and Control, on top of Zoning Ordinance compliance. The Manager sets an annual permit fee by resolution but must waive it for nonprofit search-and-rescue operations and nonprofit hospital or school programs.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pet shop or kennel without the required permit is a code violation enforceable by the Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Clara County ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats?
Do nonprofit rescues need this permit too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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