Free resource · Reviewed August 2026

Dog grooming license requirements by state

No U.S. state requires a license to work as a pet groomer. Four states license the grooming shop itself, six leave it to cities and counties, and two have licensing bills sitting in committee. Everywhere else, the state asks for a business license and nothing more — which means your city usually has more to say about this than your state does.

States that license groomers: 0
States that license the shop: 4
States with local rules only: 6
States with a bill pending: 2

Check your state What you actually need to open

All 50 states + DC

Find your state on the map

Hover or tap a state for the short version. Click to pin it and see the agency and the statute. Every state is also written out in the table below.

Small states

What the colors mean

Your state

Pick a state to see who regulates grooming there, which law applies, and what you actually have to do before you open.

Not legal advice. General information, not legal advice. We are not lawyers — verify with your state and city before you act.

The short answer

Three tiers, and only one of them is a real license

No state licenses the groomer

There is no federal grooming license and no state exam, training hour requirement, or credential you must hold to groom pets for money. If a website tells you Connecticut, New Jersey or New York licenses individual groomers, it is wrong — the statutes say otherwise.

Four states license the shop

Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois license the grooming facility through their Department of Agriculture, under animal-care or kennel statutes. That means an application, a fee, and a pre-opening inspection — for the business, not for you.

Your city is the real regulator

For most groomers the operative rules are local: a business license, a home-occupation or zoning permit, a health inspection, and — for mobile units — wastewater rules. New York City, Los Angeles County and Clark County all regulate grooming where their states do not.

Shop license required: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois
City or county rules only: California, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Washington
Licensing bill pending: Massachusetts, New Jersey

State by state

Every state, side by side

Reviewed August 2026 against state statutes, administrative codes and agency pages. States marked confirm with your statewere classified from the national picture rather than a line-by-line read of that state's animal-care code.

Pet grooming license requirements for all 50 US states and the District of Columbia, August 2026
State	What's required	Who oversees it	What it means for you
AlabamaAL	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
AlaskaAK	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
ArizonaAZ	No state license	County (kennel permits)A.R.S. § 11-1010	Nothing statewide for grooming. Counties issue kennel permits, which most salons do not need.
ArkansasAR	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
CaliforniaCA	Local rules	Local animal control, e.g. LA County DACCLA County Code § 10.40.020	No state license, but LA County requires a signed pre-groom consultation, bans nooses and prong collars as restraints, and limits enclosed cage dryers. Many LA-area cities copy it.
ColoradoCO	Shop license	Dept. of Agriculture (PACFA)C.R.S. Title 35, Art. 80	Shops pay $400 and independent-contractor groomers pay $350, both licensed and inspected annually. Continuing education is required at renewal.
ConnecticutCT	Shop license	Dept. of AgricultureConn. Gen. Stat. § 22-344	Grooming facilities are licensed and inspected, $200 fee. There is no license for the groomer — only the shop.
DelawareDE	No state license	Office of Animal Welfare16 Del. C. Ch. 30F	The kennel license scheme does not reach grooming-only shops.
District of ColumbiaDC	No state license	DC Dept. of Health	No grooming-specific rules. General business license, and check zoning if you work from home.
FloridaFL	Local rules	County animal servicesCh. 828 F.S. and local codes	A 2023 state preemption law ended Miami-Dade's groomer license, but county care standards still apply. County practice is still shifting, so check yours.
GeorgiaGA	Shop license	Dept. of AgricultureO.C.G.A. § 4-11-1; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13	Grooming shops need a state kennel license. The rule names grooming shops directly, so a standalone salon counts.
HawaiiHI	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
IdahoID	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
IllinoisIL	Shop license	Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health & Welfare225 ILCS 605 (Animal Welfare Act)	Grooming for a fee makes you an animal care facility, which means a license around $350 plus inspection.
IndianaIN	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
IowaIA	No state license	Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship	No license. Worth knowing that grooming is a taxable service in Iowa, so you need a sales tax permit.Confirm with your state
KansasKS	No state license	Dept. of Agriculture, Animal Facilities InspectionK.S.A. 47-1701 et seq.	The Pet Animal Act reaches you only if you board as well as groom.
KentuckyKY	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
LouisianaLA	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
MaineME	No state license	Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry7 M.R.S. Ch. 723	State facility licenses cover boarding, breeding and pet shops. Grooming is not on the list.
MarylandMD	Local rules	Local, e.g. Montgomery CountyCounty code	Montgomery County makes grooming shops hold a commercial kennel license. Mobile groomers who travel to homes are exempt.
MassachusettsMA	Bill pending	Proposed Board of Registration of Pet GroomersH.310; S.3028	Licensing bills keep getting filed, along with a past proposal to ban drying cages. Nothing has been enacted.
MichiganMI	No state license	MDARDAct 287 of 1969 (MCL 287.331)	No facility license, but flea and tick baths count as pesticide application and need a credential.
MinnesotaMN	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
MississippiMS	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
MissouriMO	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
MontanaMT	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
NebraskaNE	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
NevadaNV	Local rules	Local — Clark County and Las VegasNRS Ch. 574 (cruelty)	Local business license plus wastewater rules. Mobile units cannot drain wash water to a storm drain.
New HampshireNH	No state license	Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & FoodRSA 437	The pet vendor law does not cover grooming. General business license only.
New JerseyNJ	Bill pending	Proposed state boardS264 (Bijou's Law); also S.462	A licensing bill has come back every session since 2014 — an exam, a practical demo and a $75 fee. It has never passed. A separate bill would require video monitoring in shops.
New MexicoNM	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
New YorkNY	Local rules	NYC Dept. of Health & Mental HygieneNYC Health Code Art. 161	NYC requires a Small Animal Grooming Establishment Permit and a manager who has passed the animal care and handling course. Statewide facility bills are pending.
North CarolinaNC	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
North DakotaND	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
OhioOH	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
OklahomaOK	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
OregonOR	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
PennsylvaniaPA	No state license	Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement3 P.S. § 459-206	The kennel license only kicks in if you keep or board 26 or more dogs. Grooming-only shops are not covered.
Rhode IslandRI	No state license	Dept. of Environmental Management, State VeterinarianR.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 4-19	Genuinely unclear. The kennel law is built around boarding, but the statute cross-references a grooming facility. Call RI DEM before you assume either way.Confirm with your state
South CarolinaSC	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
South DakotaSD	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No license. Grooming is a taxable service, so you need a sales tax permit.Confirm with your state
TennesseeTN	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No license. A past push for a dryer ban and groomer licensing did not pass.
TexasTX	No state license	Dept. of Licensing & Regulation (no grooming program)HB978 (2023, died); HB2127 (preemption)	No license. A groomer cruelty bill died in 2023, and a broad preemption law now limits what cities can require.
UtahUT	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
VermontVT	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
VirginiaVA	No state license	VDACS and localVa. Code §§ 3.2-6518, 3.2-6519	No license, but the code puts real duties on you: get emergency vet care if an animal is hurt or sick during grooming, and give written notice to the owner. Violating it is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
WashingtonWA	Local rules	Local (Seattle); WSDA for pesticidesLocal codes	Business license from your city, and a pesticide applicator credential from WSDA if you use flea or tick chemicals.
West VirginiaWV	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No license. Grooming is a taxable service, so you need a sales tax permit.Confirm with your state
WisconsinWI	No state license	Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state
WyomingWY	No state license	No state agency for grooming	No state license for groomers or grooming shops. You still need a general business license, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and whatever your city or county requires.Confirm with your state

Every state name links to a full page for that state — the answer, the checklist, the local layer, and who to call to confirm it.

Not legal advice. General information, not legal advice. We are not lawyers — verify with your state and city before you act.

The thing everyone confuses

Certification is not a license

A license is government-mandated: skip it and you are operating illegally. A certification is industry-issued and voluntary: it proves your skill to clients and employers, and carries no legal force. Nobody can stop you grooming for not having one — but plenty of clients will choose the groomer who does.

NDGAA

National Dog Groomers Association of America

National Certified Master Groomer (NCMG)

Written exams plus breed demonstrations.

IPG

International Professional Groomers

International Certified Master Groomer (ICMG)

Exam-based, with members in many countries.

ISCC

International Society of Canine Cosmetologists

Master Pet Stylist (MPS)

A staged track toward the master title.

NCGI

National Cat Groomers Institute

Certified Feline Master Groomer

Cat-specific handling and coat work.

AKC

American Kennel Club

S.A.F.E. Grooming program

Salon safety training and testing.

PPGSA

Professional Pet Groomers & Stylists Alliance

Shared industry standards

Common care, safety and sanitation standards, adopted 2014.

One exception worth knowing: Los Angeles County requires groomers working unsupervised to hold a recognized certification, grooming-school training plus a year of experience, or a year-long apprenticeship. That is a local rule borrowing the industry's credentials — not a state license.

Before you open

What you actually need to groom legally

“No state license” does not mean “no rules.” Here is the real checklist in a state with no grooming statute at all.

A general business license
From your city or county, in every state. This is the one almost everybody actually needs, and the one people mistake for a “grooming license.”
A registered business and EIN
Sole proprietor, LLC or corporation, registered with your Secretary of State. An EIN from the IRS if you hire anyone or file as an entity.
A sales tax permit, if grooming is taxable
Grooming is a taxable service in states including Iowa, South Dakota and West Virginia. Get the permit before you take money, not after.
Zoning or a home-occupation permit
Working out of your house or garage? Most cities want a home-occupation permit, and some prohibit client traffic in residential zones outright.
Liability and animal-bailee insurance
General liability covers your premises. Animal bailee covers the pets in your care, which general liability usually does not. Landlords and commissaries often require proof of both.
A pesticide credential, if you do flea and tick baths
States including Michigan, New York and Washington treat commercial flea and tick applications as pesticide use, which needs an applicator credential.
The care duties your state does impose
Animal cruelty statutes apply everywhere. Virginia goes further and requires groomers to get emergency vet care for an animal injured or ill during grooming, and to give the owner written notice. Violating it is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Mobile and van-based

Mobile groomers pick up four extra rules

No state licenses you as a mobile groomer. But wherever grooming is regulated at all, the van is regulated harder than the salon.

The mobile groomer path

WastewaterWash water goes to sewer, never a storm drain. This is the rule most mobile groomers get cited for.
A commissary or disposal agreementMany jurisdictions want a named, written place where you fill and dump.
Commercial vehicle registrationFully-built units often clear 10,000 lb GVWR, which changes your registration and sometimes your license class.
Pesticide certificationSame rule as salons — flea and tick chemicals need an applicator credential in several states.

Watch list

Where the law is moving

Groomer licensing bills tend to appear after a publicized grooming death. None has passed yet. These are the ones to keep an eye on — a bill only changes your life once a governor signs it.

New Jersey

S264 — “Bijou's Law”

Named for a Shih Tzu who died during a routine groom, first introduced in 2014 and reintroduced every session since. It would require applicants to be 18, be of good moral character, pass an exam and a practical demonstration, and pay a $75 fee. A separate bill, S.462, would require video monitoring in grooming facilities.

New York

A1108 / S6963

Companion bills would add a new article to General Business Law covering standards of care, recordkeeping, and registration and inspection of grooming facilities, coordinated with Agriculture & Markets. This would be statewide facility licensing, not a groomer license.

Massachusetts

H.310 / S.3028

H.310 would establish a Board of Registration of Pet Groomers. S.3028 is a broader pet safety omnibus. Massachusetts has been filing versions of this for over a decade, including a proposal to ban drying cages.

Texas & Florida

Preemption

Both states moved the other way. Texas HB2127 (2023) broadly preempts local regulation, and a Florida preemption law the same year ended Miami-Dade's groomer license. If you are in a preemption state, check whether the county rule you read about still exists.

Common questions

The questions groomers actually ask

Do you need a license to groom dogs?

Not from any state, as a groomer. As of 2026 no U.S. state issues a license to work as an individual pet groomer. What you do need is a general business license from your city or county, a sales tax permit if your state taxes grooming, and — in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia and Illinois — a state license for the grooming facility itself.

What states require a dog grooming license?

None require a license for the groomer. Four states license the grooming shop: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia and Illinois, all through the state Department of Agriculture. Colorado goes one step further and also licenses independent-contractor groomers who work in up to three locations.

How do I get a dog grooming license?

If you are in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia or Illinois, you apply to the state Department of Agriculture for a facility license, pay the fee (roughly $200 to $400 depending on the state) and pass a pre-opening inspection. Everywhere else there is no grooming license to get — you register the business, get a general business license, and meet your city's zoning and health rules.

Is dog grooming certification required by law?

No. Certification from bodies like NDGAA, IPG, ISCC or the National Cat Groomers Institute is voluntary and industry-issued. It carries no legal force. It does build credibility with clients and employers, and some local rules — Los Angeles County, for example — require certification, grooming-school training or an apprenticeship before you groom unsupervised.

Do I need a license to groom dogs from home?

There is still no state groomer license, but home grooming adds a layer: most cities require a home-occupation permit or zoning clearance, and some prohibit client traffic in residential zones outright. Check your city's zoning office before you take your first appointment.

Do mobile groomers need a special license?

No state licenses mobile groomers as groomers, but mobile units pick up extra rules almost everywhere they are regulated. The big one is wastewater: you cannot discharge wash water to a storm drain. Expect commercial vehicle registration, a commissary or disposal agreement, and a pesticide-applicator credential if you apply flea or tick treatments.

How much does a grooming facility license cost?

In the four states that license facilities: Connecticut charges $200 for a license good until the second December 31st after issue, Colorado charges $400 for a grooming facility and $350 for an independent-contractor groomer, and Illinois runs about $350. Georgia licenses grooming shops under its kennel license. Local permits are separate and vary widely.

Can I be prosecuted if a dog is hurt during grooming?

Yes, in every state — animal cruelty statutes apply whether or not grooming is licensed. A few states go further. Virginia's code puts affirmative duties on groomers to get emergency veterinary care for an animal injured or ill during grooming and to give the owner written notice; violating it is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Is this page legal advice?

No. GroomerConnect is a business-education company, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice or a legal opinion. Reading this page does not create an attorney–client relationship. It is a general summary written for a national audience, it may be out of date or wrong, and it is not tailored to your business or your location. Confirm your own requirements with your state department of agriculture, your state board of veterinary medicine, and your city and county — and talk to a licensed attorney in your state before you open, file, sign, or spend.

How we built this

Every classification here comes from state statutes, administrative codes, legislature sites and agency pages. We deliberately disregarded the “grooming license by state” content-farm pages that circulate online — several of them list Connecticut, New Jersey and New York as requiring individual groomer licenses, which the actual statutes contradict.

We review it a few times a year, not daily — last reviewed August 2026. Where a state is marked confirm with your state, the classification reflects the national picture rather than a line-by-line read of that state's animal-care code. None of it is legal advice; see the disclaimer below.

Groomer license required — A state license to work as a groomer. No state has one. 0 states
Shop license required — The state licenses and inspects the grooming business itself. 4 states
Local rules only — No state license, but cities or counties permit and inspect shops. 6 states
Bill pending — A licensing bill has been introduced but has not passed. 2 states
No state license — General business license and local rules only. 39 states

Important legal disclaimer — please read

We are not lawyers

GroomerConnect teaches the business side of grooming. We are not a law firm, we do not practice law, and no one here is your attorney. Nothing on this page is legal advice, a legal opinion, or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Reading it, sharing it, or contacting us does not create an attorney–client relationship.

This is general information only

Everything here is a general summary written for a national audience. It is not tailored to your business, your location, your entity type, your lease, your insurance, or your facts. Two groomers in the same state can have genuinely different obligations. Do not treat a summary as a determination about your situation.

The law changes, and we may be wrong or out of date

This research was last reviewed August 2026. Statutes get amended, agencies reinterpret rules, bills pass, and preemption laws wipe out county requirements overnight. We make no warranty — express or implied — that any classification here is accurate, complete, or current, and we are not liable for any loss arising from reliance on it.

Your city and county usually matter more than your state

For most groomers the operative rules are local: business licensing, zoning and home-occupation permits, health inspections, wastewater and mobile-unit rules. Local rules change faster than state law and are not comprehensively tracked on this page. Always check with your own city clerk, county animal services, and planning or zoning office.

Verify before you rely on any of this

Before you open, file, sign a lease, buy a van, or spend money on the strength of anything here, confirm it directly with your state department of agriculture or equivalent animal-care agency, your state board of veterinary medicine, your state department of revenue for sales tax, and your city and county. If money or liability is on the line, hire a licensed attorney in your state.

Who to confirm it with

Your state department of agriculture, or whichever state agency handles animal care and kennel licensing
Your state board of veterinary medicine, if any part of your work touches veterinary scope
Your state department of revenue, to confirm whether grooming is a taxable service
Your city clerk or business licensing office, for the general business license
Your city planning or zoning office, especially if you work from home
Your county animal services department, for local grooming and kennel rules
A licensed attorney in your state, before you sign or spend anything significant

Last reviewed August 2026. Provided “as is,” without warranty of any kind. Your compliance is your responsibility.

One page per state

Go straight to your state

Each state page answers the question directly, lists what you actually need to open there, and names who to call to confirm it.

Nobody licenses you. So the credential you earn is the one that counts.

Licensing is the floor, and in most states there isn't one. What actually separates a grooming job from a grooming business is knowing your numbers, your contracts and your risk. That is what we teach.

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