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Tippecanoe County, IN Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 90.14
Adopted
Ord. 2024-11-CM, 8-19-24
Base fine
$250 (catch-all, § 90.99)
Applies to
Unincorporated Tippecanoe County
Exception
Certified/audited breeders under state law

Summary

Tippecanoe County bans retail pet stores in the unincorporated county from selling dogs or cats outright, adopted as a puppy-mill ordinance in 2024. Stores may only host adoption events for animal shelters or rescues, or sell dogs sourced from tightly regulated, certified breeders or brokers.

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

PET STORE. A retail establislnnent where animals are sold, exchanged, bartered or offered for sale as pet animals to the general public at retail. The term does not include an animal care facility or animal rescue organization... (B) Restrictions on the sale of animals. Except as provided in division (C) below, a pet store shall not sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats or dogs. However, nothing in this section shall prohibit pet stores from collaborating with animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs and cats.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).

Full Breakdown

14, adopted by Ord. 2024-11-CM on August 19, 2024, a PET STORE, defined as a retail establishment selling animals as pets to the general public, may not sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats or dogs. The ordinance does not stop pet stores from partnering with an ANIMAL CARE FACILITY (a government-run shelter) or an ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION (a 501(c)(3) rescue) to host adoption showcases on their premises. C. 1-compliant breeder or broker with a clean two-year record.

C. 15-21-6-2, noting it applies only so long as municipalities are required to permit such sales under that statute. The chapter's OFFER FOR SALE definition sweeps in advertising, bartering, auctioning, and giving away animals, closing off workaround transactions. This section sits in Chapter 90, Animals, alongside the county's broader animal-control code covering licensing, confinement, and cruelty.

Violations & Fines

Violating § 90.14 falls under § 90.99(A)'s catch-all: "All other violations of this chapter not otherwise specified" carry a $250 fine. Division (B) of § 90.99 also allows compensatory damages on top of the fine if the violation causes injury or property damage. Ordinance 2025-11-CM, passed 8-19-24, sets the current penalty schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a pet store in Tippecanoe County sell puppies?
Only if the dogs come from a commercial breeder or broker meeting strict state registration, certification, and audit standards under § 90.14(C). Otherwise pet stores cannot sell, barter, or give away dogs or cats at all.
Can a pet store host an adoption event?
Yes. Section 90.14(B) specifically allows pet stores to collaborate with animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to showcase adoptable dogs and cats on their premises.
What is the fine for violating the pet-store sale ban?
Violations fall under the chapter's catch-all penalty in § 90.99(A), which sets a $250 fine for chapter violations not otherwise specifically listed, plus possible compensatory damages.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tippecanoe County

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All Tippecanoe County rules

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