Louisville, KY Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail dog/cat sales
- Banned outright
- Shelter/rescue showcase
- Allowed, no fee
- Street/flea market sales
- Banned
- Criminal penalty
- $5-$250, up to 90 days
- Civil penalty
- $150-$1,000
Summary
Louisville Metro bans retail pet stores from selling dogs or cats outright, while still allowing shelters and rescues to showcase adoptable animals in-store.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be unlawful for a retail pet store, as defined in this section, to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale any dog or cat at or on any street, public right-of-way, parkway, median, park, recreation area, outdoor market, booth, flea markets, roadside stand, temporary site or parking lot regardless of whether such access is authorized by the owner.
(C) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the provision of space to an animal rescue organization or an animal shelter, as defined, to publicly showcase dogs or cats available for adoption; provided that the provider does not maintain an ownership interest in any of the animals offered for adoption or receive a fee for providing such space. Nor shall this section prohibit the display of dogs or cats as part of a state or county fair exhibition, 4-H program, or similar exhibitions or educational programs.
(D) All pet shops shall list the contact information of the breeder where the animal was bred. This information shall be posted in clear view on the kennel. (1994 Jeff. Code, § 91.096) (Jeff. Ord. 17-1990, adopted and effective 12-19- 1990; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 97-2003, approved 5-16-2003; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 233-2006, approved 1-4-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 290-2007, approved 12- 20-2007; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 138-2023, approved 10-3-2023, eff. 10-3-2024) Penalty, see § 91.999
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Metro Code § 91.141 makes it unlawful for any retail pet store to sell or offer for sale a dog or cat, full stop: no license type exempts a shop from the ban. Stores may still host an animal rescue or shelter showcasing adoptable dogs and cats, but only if the rescue keeps ownership and the store charges no fee for the space. Selling dogs or cats from a street, parking lot, flea market, or roadside stand is separately banned. Pet shops that sell other animals must post the breeder's contact information on the kennel.
Violations & Fines
Violations are Class B misdemeanors under § 91.999(A)(2), fine of $5 to $250, up to 90 days jail, or both, with each day a separate offense, or a civil citation of $150 to $1,000 through the Code Enforcement Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Louisville pet store sell puppies?
Can a pet store still host adoption events?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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