Prince George's County, MD Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- PG County Code § 3-170
- Min. age to sell dog/cat
- 8 weeks
- Required facility temperature
- 65-75°F
- Vet exam frequency
- Every 14 days
- Refund/exchange window
- 10 days after sale
- First-offense civil penalty
- $100 (§ 3-116(a)(2))
Summary
Prince George's County does not ban retail sale of dogs and cats, but the General Code's Section 3-170 sets detailed animal-welfare and consumer-protection standards for pet shops and commercial pet distribution facilities. Dealers cannot sell or display a dog or cat younger than eight weeks, must keep facilities within a set temperature range, and must give buyers a refund or exchange if a vet later finds the animal unfit.
(i)(1)It shall be a violation for any pet dealer to sell a dog or cat without providing the consumer with a pet dealer's animal history certificate at the time the consumer takes possession of the dog or cat. ... (4)If, at any time within ten (10) days following receipt of an animal by a consumer, a veterinarian certifies such animal to have been unfit for purchase due to illness, a congenital defect deleterious to the health of the animal, or the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:(A)The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price including sales tax; or(B)The right to return the animal and to receive an exchange animal of equivalent value from the dealer, subject to the choice of the consumer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 3-170 of the Prince George's County Code (General Code, Subtitle 3, Animal Control) governs every pet shop and commercial pet distribution facility in the county. Incoming animals from a common carrier must be picked up within four hours of arrival, isolated for examination apart from other stock, and any sick or injured animal must get immediate veterinary care before it can be sold or displayed. Facilities must hold canines and felines at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a visible working thermometer, have all dogs and cats examined by a veterinarian every fourteen days, keep current distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis and FVRCP vaccination records, and may never accept, sell, or display a dog or cat younger than eight weeks old.
Cage, sanitation, and enclosure rules cover flooring, ventilation, litter, and daily cleaning, and hand-washing facilities must be available for the public. On the consumer side, Section 3-170(i) requires a signed pet dealer's animal history certificate at the time of sale listing breed, age, source, breeder, veterinary exam date, and vaccinations. If a licensed veterinarian certifies within ten days of purchase that the animal was unfit for purchase due to illness, a congenital defect, or a contagious disease, the buyer chooses either a full refund of the purchase price including sales tax or an exchange animal of equivalent value, and the pet shop must pay any refund within ten business days.
The required notice of these rights must appear in at least ten-point bold type in the sales contract or certificate. Records on each dog or cat, and lot records for birds, must be kept and made available to the Health Department.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Sections 3-160 through 3-174, which includes the pet-shop standards in Section 3-170, carry a civil penalty under Section 3-116(a)(2) of $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for each later violation. A pet dealer who omits or falsifies the required animal history certificate, or fails to honor the ten-day refund or exchange right, is separately in violation of Section 3-170(i). The Commission for Animal Control and the Animal Management Division enforce these standards through inspection and citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pet stores in PG County sell puppies and kittens?
What happens if a pet bought from a PG County pet shop turns out sick?
What records must a PG County pet shop keep on each animal?
What's the penalty for a pet shop that violates these standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
Compare Prince George's County to another location·View the Maryland animal ordinances overview
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