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

The Code of Public Local Laws ties animal sales to two defined roles. A BREEDER under § PS 2-101(b) is any person who maintains six or more intact female dogs, cats or an aggregate thereof, over four months of age, on the premises for any period of time, for the purpose of breeding and selling their offspring, or who sells puppies or kittens from a maximum of three litters per calendar year. The rule printed in § PS 2-102(h)(6) attaches to that role: any breeder must have all puppies or kittens examined by a licensed veterinarian within four weeks of birth. Puppies must be dewormed and vaccinated for distemper, parvo and parainfluenza prior to being sold. Kittens must be dewormed and vaccinated for rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia prior to being sold.

The second role is the commercial kennel, whose definition lists sale among the covered activities. An establishment that maintains for commercial breeding, treatment, boarding, sale, leasing, rental, training or exhibition more than five dogs, cats or an aggregate thereof, over four months of age, is a commercial kennel unless it is a licensed veterinary facility. Under § PS 2-102(h)(1), no person or entity can operate a commercial kennel without a commercial kennel license from the Animal Control Warden. Each lot or parcel is a separate establishment with its own license, and animals kept as part of the kennel must meet the rabies vaccination and license requirements of the Subtitle. Licenses run from July 1 to June 30 and are not transferable.

Recordkeeping follows the animals out the door. The license holder must keep, and provide to the Warden on request, a list of the name, address and contact information for the owner of each animal maintained at or sold from the commercial kennel, rabies documentation for each animal over four months of age, and a list of all other treatments and vaccinations each animal received. The holder grants the Warden a right of entry at all reasonable hours. A material falsification of information concerning the sale or other disposition of each dog or cat from the kennel is a ground for suspension, revocation or refusal to renew. A licensed veterinarian is not required to obtain a kennel license for animals held for treatment directly related to veterinary care.

The code text read here does not use the words pet store, and it prints no ban on retail sales of dogs or cats. The sale rules attach to breeders and commercial kennels in unincorporated Worcester County. The Subtitle does not apply inside the Town of Ocean City.