Who needs a pet shop license (sales) and boarding kennel license (boarding or daycare) in North Carolina?
Issued by North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Animal Welfare Section, at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
Selling dogs, cats or other pets needs the pet shop license; boarding or daytime care needs the boarding kennel license, each after an inspection. Grooming alone needs no state license. Operating without a required license is a class 3 misdemeanor for each day.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Animal Welfare Section.
Sources and dates
Animal Welfare Section pet shop and boarding kennel applications; Animal Welfare Act (G.S. 19A-23 and following). Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
Yes. Selling dogs, cats or other pets needs the pet shop license; boarding or daytime care needs the boarding kennel license, each after an inspection.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
No. In North Carolina it is listed for pet stores and groomers.
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Animal Welfare Section.
Step 4 of 6, get the permits for your kind of business. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax and approve the space.
Who needs a pet shop license in North Carolina? | DoorWorthy
