Harford County, MD Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Section 64-26 makes it unlawful to operate a pet shop without a valid pet shop license, with the annual fee set under Chapter 157, § 157-24. There is no adoption-only mandate or ban on selling dogs or cats in this code; licensing plus animal-welfare standards is the entire regulatory scheme. Section 64-27 spells out the minimum pet shop standards a licensee must meet, and failure to meet any of them is grounds for the Director of the Department to deny or revoke the license. Cages and enclosures must be built of nonporous material for cleaning, and each cage must let the animal stand, turn and stretch to full length and height.

A mesh or screen suspended cage floor must have at least half its surface covered by a removable, flat, nonporous panel, kept in place except during cleaning. Every animal needs sufficient clean, dry bedding, and mammals under 3 months old must be fed at least three times a day. Food must sit in a clean container mounted so the animal cannot tip it, defecate or urinate in it, and hot water with a commercial disinfectant must be kept at a minimum of 75 degrees Fahrenheit for washing dishes and cages.

Fresh water must be available to every animal at all times in a container the animal cannot readily overturn. Birds get a clean cage with room to perch, with large birds separated from smaller ones, and fish must be kept in a clean, algae-free tank at a constant, healthful temperature, with dead fish removed immediately. Every animal must be fed, watered and given clean bedding daily, including Sundays and holidays. Violations of Article V fall under the Chapter 64 penalty scheme: a misdemeanor conviction under § 64-28 brings a fine of $25 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both.