Dog Grooming Salon Permit Requirements in Stamford, CT

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Connecticut Department of Revenue Services — Sales Tax Permit

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services in Connecticut. Connecticut charges a 6.35% state sales tax and taxes certain services (broader base than many states). Register with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services via myconneCT; a $100 registration fee applies.

   Official government source

   $100 (registration fee)·Immediate (online via myconneCT)

   $100 (registration fee)

   Immediate (online via myconneCT)

2. Connecticut Grooming Facility License required; no individual groomer license

   It is not true that Connecticut has no statewide licensing requirement for dog grooming. CGS Sec. 22-344(c) bars any person from engaging in the business of grooming or maintaining a grooming facility without a licence from the Commissioner of Agriculture, and Sec. 22-327 defines a grooming facility as any place, including any vehicle or trailer, maintained as a business where dogs are groomed - so mobile groomers are covered as well as shops. On an initial application the municipal zoning enforcement official must certify that the facility conforms to local zoning regulations, and the department inspects for sanitation, disease control and humane treatment, with fines of up to $500 per animal for violations and up to $200 for operating unlicensed. What Connecticut does not license is the individual groomer: there is no state competency credential, so voluntary certification from bodies such as the National Dog Groomers Association of America or International Professional Groomers remains optional and is set by those private organisations.

   Official government source

   $200 state Grooming Facility license fee (CGS Sec. 22-344(c)), payable again at each biennial renewal; voluntary private certification fees are set by the certifying organisation·The state licence runs until the second December 31st following issuance and must be renewed biennially by that date; initial applications require the municipal zoning certification before the department will issue

   $200 state Grooming Facility license fee (CGS Sec. 22-344(c)), payable again at each biennial renewal; voluntary private certification fees are set by the certifying organisation

   The state licence runs until the second December 31st following issuance and must be renewed biennially by that date; initial applications require the municipal zoning certification before the department will issue

1. Stamford Certificate of Occupancy and category-specific permits (no general business license)

   Stamford requires no general business license, and Connecticut has no statewide one - so nothing is issued annually to be displayed at the place of business. What Stamford does require is a Certificate of Occupancy for the premises from the Building Department, plus whichever category-specific permits fit the business. The city's Permits and Licenses catalogue lists Building Department permits (building, demolition, zoning, signs, temporary tents, contractor registration), Engineering excavation and obstruction permits, and Department of Health licences (annual food establishment, retail food store, mobile food establishment, cosmetology, massage establishment, hotel/motel, public pool, multiple family dwelling, rooming house, refuse trucks). Note the Building Department sits under Operations; Economic Development is a separate office that issues no permits.

   Official government source

   No general business license fee exists; Building, Engineering and Health permit fees are set per category by Stamford's adopted fee schedules·A building permit must be issued or refused within 30 days of application (CGS Sec. 29-263(a)); Health Department licences such as food and cosmetology run annually and require plan review and inspection before issuance

   No general business license fee exists; Building, Engineering and Health permit fees are set per category by Stamford's adopted fee schedules

   A building permit must be issued or refused within 30 days of application (CGS Sec. 29-263(a)); Health Department licences such as food and cosmetology run annually and require plan review and inspection before issuance

2. Connecticut Department of Agriculture - Grooming Facility License

   Dog grooming is licensed by the state, not by any county - Connecticut abolished county government in 1960 and there is no Fairfield County Animal Services. CGS Sec. 22-344(c) bars anyone from engaging in the business of grooming or maintaining a grooming facility without a licence from the Commissioner of Agriculture, and Sec. 22-327 defines a grooming facility as any place, including any vehicle or trailer, maintained as a business where dogs are groomed - so mobile groomers are covered too. On an initial application the zoning enforcement official of the municipality must certify that the facility conforms to local zoning regulations, and the department inspects for sanitation, disease control and humane treatment.

   Official government source

   $200 licence fee (CGS Sec. 22-344(c)), payable again at each biennial renewal·The licence runs until the second December 31st following issuance and must be renewed biennially by that date; initial applications require the municipal zoning certification before the department will issue

   $200 licence fee (CGS Sec. 22-344(c)), payable again at each biennial renewal

   The licence runs until the second December 31st following issuance and must be renewed biennially by that date; initial applications require the municipal zoning certification before the department will issue

3. Stamford Certificate of Occupancy for a grooming salon

   A commercial grooming salon needs a Certificate of Occupancy from the Stamford Building Department, and the space must be zoned for a pet services use. Connecticut has no county government, so no Fairfield County authority issues certificates of occupancy. Separately, the groomer must hold the state grooming facility license issued by the Department of Agriculture ($200, biennial, CGS Sec. 22-344(c)).

   Official government source

   Set by Stamford's building and certificate of occupancy fee schedule; the state grooming facility license is $200 biennially·Certificate of occupancy is issued after the building department's final inspection

   Set by Stamford's building and certificate of occupancy fee schedule; the state grooming facility license is $200 biennially

   Certificate of occupancy is issued after the building department's final inspection

Official Sources

• City of Stamford Department of Building, Land Use & Economic Development
• Fairfield County Animal Services

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