Knoxville, TN Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum sale age
- 8 weeks, weaned
- Permit required
- Pet retail establishment permit
- Permit fee
- $25 per year
- Breeder sourcing
- USDA-inspected, no recent violations
Summary
Knoxville doesn't ban pet-store sales, but every pet retail establishment needs an animal-shelter permit, can't sell dogs or cats under eight weeks old, and can't source puppies from poorly-inspected USDA breeders.
No pet retail establishments shall sell dogs or cats under the age of eight (8) weeks and/or unweaned.(i)If a pet retail establishment has a puppy or multiple puppies that test positive for parvovirus, canine coronavirus, distemper, internal or external parasites, Bordetella, Giardia and/or Campylobacter the permittee shall post a public notice in plain sight on the premises warning consumers to the risk of disease transmission to other pets and/or humans for two (2) weeks following a positive test and shall inform the animal shelter within twenty-four (24) hours of positive test.(j)Pet retail establishments shall not source puppies from any breeder that is not routinely inspected by the USDA or that has had a direct or critical USDA NCI (violation) for an incident or condition that had a serious or severe impact on the welfare of an animal in the previous two (2) years and that has not been corrected or remediated since the issuance of the citation. (Ord. No. O-484-93, § 1, 8-31-93; Ord. No. O-19-2023, §§ 8, 9, 1-24-23; Ord. No. O-171-2023, § 1, 12-12-23)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Any business selling or displaying dogs, cats or other animals, pet shops, breeders selling direct to consumers, boarding facilities, kennels and daycares, must hold a pet retail establishment permit from the animal shelter, renewed annually for $25. Permits require annual reporting on each animal's breeder, USDA license and inspection history. Stores may not sell dogs or cats under eight weeks old or still unweaned, and may not source puppies from breeders lacking routine USDA inspection or with an uncorrected serious USDA welfare violation in the prior two years.
Violations & Fines
Selling underage or unweaned animals, or sourcing from an uninspected or violating breeder, is grounds for permit revocation and citation; repeated noncompliance bars a new permit for three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pet stores in Knoxville sell puppies from any breeder?
Is there a minimum age for dogs and cats sold in Knoxville pet stores?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knoxville
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