Washoe County, NV Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

455 requires every such establishment to obtain a welfare permit from Regional Animal Services before operating, with a separate permit needed for each location and a new inspection required on any change of ownership or location. Permits cannot be transferred between people or locations. Beyond the American Veterinary Medical Association welfare standards the code incorporates, subsection 6 layers on sale-specific conditions: enclosure walls and floors must be nonabsorbent and impervious to moisture, every dog and cat must be held in an isolation room or area for a minimum of 72 hours before release to a purchaser, animals must be observed daily for injury, illness or disease, and no dog or cat over three months old may be sold without a valid rabies vaccination.

Establishments must keep sale and disposition records for at least two years, allow animal control officers unscheduled inspections during business hours, maintain a written Program of Veterinary Care overseen by an attending veterinarian, and provide hand sanitizer for public use around the animals. Regional Animal Services inspects each establishment annually and verifies the business license required by the City of Reno, City of Sparks or the unincorporated county, whichever applies. Veterinarians and veterinary hospitals are exempt from this section because they answer to the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners instead.