Phoenix, AZ Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Pet shops and pet dealers
- Allowed source
- Shelter, humane society, rescue
- Records required
- 1 year, animal's source
- Breeder exemption
- Own bred-and-reared animals only
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $2,500
Summary
Phoenix bans pet shops and pet dealers from selling dogs or cats unless the animal comes from an animal shelter, a nonprofit humane society, or a nonprofit rescue organization.
A. No pet shop or pet dealer shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, broker or otherwise transfer or dispose of a dog or cat except for a dog or cat obtained from: 1. An animal shelter; 2. A private, nonprofit humane society or nonprofit animal rescue organization; or 3. An animal shelter, nonprofit humane society or nonprofit animal rescue organization that operates out of or in connection with a pet shop.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Phoenix City Code § 8-3.06 prohibits any pet shop or pet dealer from displaying, selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering, auctioning, giving away, brokering, or otherwise transferring a dog or cat unless it was obtained from an animal shelter, a private nonprofit humane society, or a nonprofit animal rescue organization. Pet shops and dealers must keep records of each animal's source for one year and produce them on request to police, code compliance, or other City enforcement staff. The ban does not reach private individuals or non-pet-shop sellers offering only animals they personally bred and reared, and pet shops may still host shelter or rescue animals on-site for public adoption events.
Violations & Fines
No penalty is set in § 8-3.06 itself, so the Code's general penalty (§ 1-5) applies: a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $2,500 fine, six months in jail, or three years' probation, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Phoenix pet store sell puppies bought from a breeder?
Can a private breeder still sell puppies directly to buyers?
What happens if a Phoenix pet store violates the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona animal ordinances overview
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Pet Store Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle pet store rules.