Omaha, NE Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail sale of dogs/cats
- Allowed, license required
- Minimum age to sell
- 8 weeks
- Pre-sale requirement
- Vet exam + health certificate
- Vaccinations required
- Distemper/parvo (dogs), distemper/panleuk (cats)
- Annual pet shop license fee
- $150/year (§ 19-72)
Summary
Omaha licenses pet shops and lets them sell dogs and cats, but bars sale of any under eight weeks old and requires a vet health certificate first.
No dog or cat under the age of eight weeks shall be brought or shipped into the city for purpose of resale, and no such dog or cat shall be offered for sale by any pet shop or dealer; ... Every dog or cat offered for sale must be examined by a state-licensed veterinarian and be certified ... to be free of any diseases or conditions which would be injurious to any animal or person.
Full Breakdown
Omaha does not ban retail pet sales or require an adoption-only model. Instead, City Code § 6-235 requires anyone operating a pet shop to hold a city license, and § 6-231 sets welfare conditions: no dog or cat under eight weeks may be sold or shipped in for resale, every dog or cat offered for sale must be vet-examined and certified free of injurious disease (with congenital defects disclosed in writing if not cured), and dogs need distemper/parvo shots while cats need distemper/panleukopenia shots, documented on a certificate given to the buyer.
Violations & Fines
Operating a pet shop without a license, or violating the animal-care conditions, is enforced by the permits and inspections division/animal control authority through written notice, correction periods, and license suspension; the license can be permanently revoked for serious or repeated violations under § 6-231(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pet store in Omaha sell puppies and kittens?
What must a buyer get at the time of sale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Omaha
Compare Omaha to another location·View the Nebraska animal ordinances overview
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