Hamilton County, IN Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

The county defines a puppy mill as any commercial animal establishment, of any size, that breeds more than one female dog at a time without adhering to good breeding, care, and sale practices, including selling puppies without screening buyers, selling animals under eight weeks old or diseased, isolating breeding dogs in unhealthy conditions, or housing them in crates and kennels without light or exercise. 00 per occurrence. A backyard breeder is defined more narrowly as careless home breeding of more than one female dog, or keeping fewer than 20 unaltered females over 12 months old without a breeder's permit; humane societies, rescues, and foster homes are excluded from that definition.

Pet shops themselves fall under the county's commercial animal establishment standards alongside kennels, auctions, and riding stables: they must not sell un-weaned or diseased animals, must isolate sick animals, must let an animal control officer inspect at any time, and must operate from a permanent building holding a special use or zoning permit and, where applicable, a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office breeder's permit. 19, inspected by the sheriff's department or its designee.