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Boone County, KY Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Licensing agency
Director of Animal Services
License term
Annual, July 1 to June 30
Pre-sale testing
Vet exam plus negative stool test
Disclosure required
Price, financing rate, history, breeder ID
First-offense fine
$50 to $100, § 91.99(N)
Applies in
Unincorporated Boone County only

Summary

Boone County does not ban pet-shop sales of dogs or cats and does not require adoption-only stores. Instead, every commercial animal establishment in the unincorporated county needs an annual license from the Director of Animal Services and must pass a veterinary exam and stool test on each dog, cat, puppy or kitten before it can be sold, under Boone County Code Chapter 91.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Boone County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(H) All commercial animal establishments shall possess proof of origin for any animal to be offered for sale and such documentation shall be kept on the premises and available for inspection by officers of the Animal Services Department. (I) All commercial animal establishments shall have both a medical examination and stool test completed by a licensed veterinarian for every dog, cat, puppy or kitten prior to being offered for sale. No dog, cat, puppy or kitten showing any signs of intestinal parasites, including but not limited to, giardia, coccidian or campylobacter, may be offered for sale until receiving a negative stool test.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance 2025-20, passed 6-17-25; and State legislation current through KRS 2025).

Full Breakdown

36, any commercial animal establishment, a category broad enough to reach pet shops, must hold a Commercial Animal Establishment License issued by the Director of Animal Services. The license runs from July 1 through June 30 and must be renewed every year. 37 sets the operating standards: cages must let each animal stand, sit, lie and turn around without touching the walls or another animal; dog and cat enclosures get cleaned with hot water, disinfectant and detergent daily, including holidays; food and water are supplied fresh daily; and a veterinarian must treat sick or injured animals.

37(I) requires a veterinary medical exam and a negative stool test for parasites such as giardia, coccidia or campylobacter. If a puppy later tests positive for parvovirus, canine coronavirus, distemper, Bordetella, giardia or campylobacter, the store must post a public warning notice for two weeks and tell the Animal Services Department within 24 hours. 37(K) requires a written pre-sale disclosure of the purchase price, any financing interest rate, the animal's full medical history, and the breeder's name, city, state and license number. 39 for a chapter violation or a failure to meet these standards. These rules bind only the unincorporated county; Florence, Union and Walton license pet stores under their own municipal codes.

Violations & Fines

A first violation of the minimum-standards or inspection rules in §§ 91.37 or 91.38 carries a fine of $50 to $100 under § 91.99(N); each day of noncompliance is a separate offense. License revocation under § 91.39 requires written notice, forces animal surrender within seven days, and can be appealed to a Fiscal-Court-appointed Advisory Board within ten days, with a hearing held within 30 days of that appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a pet store in Boone County sell puppies and kittens?
Yes. Boone County has no retail sales ban or adoption-only rule. A commercial animal establishment can sell dogs, cats, puppies and kittens as long as it holds a current Commercial Animal Establishment License, meets the § 91.37 minimum standards, and gives buyers the written disclosures the code requires before the sale closes.
What must a Boone County pet store test before selling a puppy?
Section 91.37(I) requires a licensed veterinarian to give every dog, cat, puppy or kitten a medical exam and stool test before it is offered for sale, and bars the sale until a negative result clears signs of giardia, coccidia or campylobacter.
Does this apply inside Florence or Union?
No. Boone County Code Chapter 91 governs only the unincorporated county. Florence, Union, Walton and the county's other incorporated cities each administer and license commercial animal establishments under their own separate municipal codes.
What happens if a Boone County pet store fails an inspection?
The Director of Animal Services can revoke the establishment's license under § 91.39 for failing the § 91.37 standards or refusing an inspection, issue a written notice giving up to seven days to remove the animals, and the operator can appeal to the Advisory Board within ten days.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Boone County

All Boone County rules

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