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KENNEL, PET SHOP AND STABLE REGISTRATIONS

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. IV, ch. 836
in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 836-1 Definitions.

Sec. 836-1. - Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section: Animal rescue organization means a not-for-profit organization having tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, whose mission and practice is, in whole or in significant part, the rescue and placement of animals into permanent homes. The term animal rescue organization does not include any person that: (1) breeds animals for profit; (2) is located on the same premises as a person that breeds animals for profit; (3) has any personnel in common with a person that breeds animals for profit; (4) obtains, in exchange for payment or compensation, dogs or cats from a person that breeds animals for profit; or (5) facilitates the sale of dogs or cats that were obtained, in exchange for payment or compensation, from a person that breeds animals for profit. Cat means any member of the species Felis catus. Dog means any member of the species Canis familiaris. Kennel means a facility operated commercially and principally for the purpose of boarding, housing, breeding or training dogs or cats, or both; a kennel, for purposes of this chapter, shall not include a facility in or adjoining a private residence where dogs are kept for the hobby of the householder using them for hunting, practice tracking, exhibiting in shows or field or obedience trials or for the guarding or protecting of the householder's property, and an occasional sale of puppies or kittens by the owner, lessee or other occupant of such property shall not make that property a kennel for the purposes of this chapter. Offer for sale means to proffer for acceptance by another person. Person shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, association, or any other entity. Pet shop means: (1) a facility operated commercially and principally for the purpose of selling animals which, in the hands of their immediate purchasers, will be pets; or (2) any retail store where animals are kept, sold, or offered for sale on the premises. An animal care services shelter, as described in section 288-103 of this Code, or an animal rescue organization, as defined in this section, shall not be considered a pet shop. Rabbit means any member of the species Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus. Sell means to exchange for consideration, adopt out, barter, auction, trade, lease, or otherwise transfer an animal. Stable means a facility operated commercially and principally for the purpose of lodging and feeding domestic animals. (G.O. 138, 1996, § 4; G.O. 8, 2023, § 1; G.O. 49, 2023, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 836-2 Registration required; fee.

Sec. 836-2. - Registration required; fee. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to own or operate a kennel, pet shop or stable within the city, unless the kennel, pet shop or stable, respectively, first is registered with the license administrator; however, the provisions of this section shall not be applicable to kennels operated by a veterinarian as a part of the veterinarian's medical clinic. (b) Each kennel, pet shop or stable shall require only one (1) registration, although it may operate as more than one (1) type of facility. (c) When a kennel, pet shop or stable is registered pursuant to this chapter, the license administrator shall issue a certificate of registration therefor. (d) The annual fee for registration of a kennel, pet shop or stable shall be provided in section 131-501 of the code. (G.O. 138, 1996, § 4; G.O. 87, 2004, § 5; G.O. 63, 2009, § 112)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 836-3 Annual inspection; registration term; renewal.

Sec. 836-3. - Annual inspection; registration term; renewal. (a) Prior to the issuance of a certificate of registration or renewal of registration, the license administrator may cause an inspection of the kennel, pet shop or stable to be made by the animal care services division to determine whether the applicant or registrant is qualified under this chapter. The animal care services agency shall report its findings to the license administrator. (b) The registration term shall be in accordance with section 801-209 of the Code. (G.O. 138, 1996, § 4; G.O. 87, 2004, § 5; G.O. 63, 2009, § 112; G.O. 25, 2010, 21; G.O. 41, 2016, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 836-4 Display.

Sec. 836-4. - Display. A kennel, pet shop or stable certificate of registration shall at all times be displayed prominently in the business office of the kennel, pet shop or stable. (G.O. 138, 1996, § 4)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 836-5 Requirements for kennels, pet shops and stables; enforcement.

Sec. 836-5. - Requirements for kennels, pet shops and stables; enforcement. (a) In addition to the registration required by this chapter, all kennels, pet shops and stables in the city shall: (1) Be operated in such a manner as not to constitute a nuisance; (2) Provide an isolation ward for boarded animals that are sick or diseased, sufficiently removed so as not to endanger the health of other animals; (3) Keep all boarded animals caged or under the control of the owner or operator of the kennel, pet shop or stable; (4) With respect to all animals in the kennel, pet shop or stable, comply with all the requirements of the Code for the general care of animals; and (5) Comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, and all applicable regulations adopted by the animal care services agency. (b) The owner or operator of all kennels and pet shops in the city shall: (1) At the time of purchase, notify the purchaser of all state and local laws that require an animal kept in the city to be vaccinated; (2) Retain the name, address and telephone number of the owner of each dog or cat boarded, and retain the name and address of each person selling, trading or giving any animal to the kennel or pet shop; and (3) Not sell animals that are unweaned or so young or weak that their sale would be injurious to the animals. (c) The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the license administrator, and by the animal care services agency as provided in article VI of chapter 531 of the Code. (G.O. 138, 1996, § 4; G.O. 183, 1997, § 6; G.O. 30, 1998, § 2; G.O. 63, 2009, § 113; G.O. 33, 2016, § 2; G.O. 41, 2016, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 836-6 Prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits by pet shops.

Sec. 836-6. - Prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits by pet shops. (a) It shall be unlawful for a pet shop to sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit unless the animal was obtained by the pet shop from either an animal services shelter described in section 288-103 of this Code or an animal rescue organization, as defined in section 836-1 and all of the following conditions are met: (1) All fees or other charges for the sale of a dog, cat or rabbit shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per animal; and (2) The pet shop posts in a conspicuous location affixed to the enclosure of each dog, cat or rabbit available for sale: the name of and city and state for the animal services shelter or animal rescue organization from which the pet store obtained the dog, cat or rabbit. (b) Maintenance of records. (1) A pet shop shall maintain records documenting from which animal services shelter or animal rescue organization the pet shop obtained each dog, cat or rabbit in the possession of the pet store for not less than one year following the date the pet store takes possession of the dog, cat or rabbit. (2) A pet shop shall make the records maintained under this section available for inspection upon request by the animal care services agency or its designee. (c) Enforcement and penalties. (1) This chapter shall be enforced by the animal care services agency or its designee. (2) A pet shop that sells or offers for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit in violation of subsection 836-6(a) is subject to admission of violation and payment of a civil penalty in an amount provided in section 103-52 of the Code for the pet shop's first violation in a twelve-month period. All second and subsequent violations in any twelve-month period are subject to the enforcement procedures and penalties provided in section 103-3 of this Code, and the fine imposed for any subsequent violation in any twelve-month period shall not be less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00). (3) A pet shop that fails to maintain and provide records in violation of subsection 836-6(b) is subject to admission of violation and payment of a civil penalty in an amount provided in section 103-52 of the Code for the pet shop's first violation in a twelve-month period. All second and subsequent violations in any twelve-month period are subject to the enforcement procedures and penalties provided in section 103-3 of this Code, and the fine imposed for any subsequent violation in any twelve-month period shall not be less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00). (4) Any violation under this chapter shall be reported to the license administrator and subject to action under chapter 801 of this Code. (d) Section 836-6 shall take effect on May 1, 2025 for any pet shop registered with the license administrator prior to April 1, 2023. (G.O. 8, 2023, § 2; G.O. 37, 2024, § 1)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIVBUCORELI_CH836KEPESHSTREFetched: 10/27/2026

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