Dog Grooming Permit Requirements in Evansville, IN

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if operating as a business entity or if you have employees. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

2. General Liability & Pet Care Insurance

   While not federally mandated, dog grooming businesses should carry general liability insurance and pet bailee/care, custody, and control (CCC) insurance to cover injuries, escapes, or accidental deaths of animals in your care. Most landlords and all professional grooming standards bodies recommend at least $1 million in coverage.

   $500–$2,500/year depending on business size·Obtained before opening

   $500–$2,500/year depending on business size

   Obtained before opening

1. Indiana Secretary of State — Business Registration (no state groomer license)

   Indiana has no state license for dog groomers — the Indiana State Board of Animal Health regulates animal health and disease control, not business licensing — so local zoning and local animal-business permits are what apply. Register the business entity with the Indiana Secretary of State through the INBiz portal if it is an LLC, corporation, or partnership; a sole proprietor or general partnership using a trade name records a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the County Recorder instead. An LLC is worth considering for liability protection when handling animals.

   Official government source

   Entity filing fees are set and published by the Indiana Secretary of State on the INBiz portal. County DBA recording fees are separate, local under IC 36-2-7-10, and vary: $35 in Marion County, $25 in Allen County, $25 in Vanderburgh County.·INBiz online filings are processed by the Secretary of State with no published fixed turnaround; county recorders typically record an assumed-name certificate at the counter while you wait.

   Entity filing fees are set and published by the Indiana Secretary of State on the INBiz portal. County DBA recording fees are separate, local under IC 36-2-7-10, and vary: $35 in Marion County, $25 in Allen County, $25 in Vanderburgh County.

   INBiz online filings are processed by the Secretary of State with no published fixed turnaround; county recorders typically record an assumed-name certificate at the counter while you wait.

2. Indiana Department of Revenue — Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (Sales Tax)

   Indiana's 7% sales tax applies to tangible personal property, not to services, so dog grooming labor is not taxable. If you sell retail products — shampoos, brushes, collars, treats — you must hold a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC) and collect the flat 7% state rate; Indiana has no local sales tax. Register through INBiz using the BT-1 business tax application.

   Official government source

   $25 registration fee per business location; renews automatically every two years at no charge·Immediate to 1 week (online via INBiz)

   $25 registration fee per business location; renews automatically every two years at no charge

   Immediate to 1 week (online via INBiz)

3. Indiana — No State Pet Groomer License Required

   Pet grooming is not a regulated profession in Indiana; it does not appear on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency's list of licensed professions, and there is no state grooming board, exam or continuing education mandate. Voluntary certification — National Dog Groomers Association of America, International Professional Groomers, or the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists — is purely a credibility and insurance matter, though franchise agreements and some pet-care chains require it. Local animal-care or kennel licensing may still apply where you board or handle animals.

   Official government source

   No state license or fee. Voluntary certification is priced by each association and typically requires training plus a practical evaluation·N/A for the state; 3–12 months if pursuing voluntary certification

   No state license or fee. Voluntary certification is priced by each association and typically requires training plus a practical evaluation

   N/A for the state; 3–12 months if pursuing voluntary certification

1. No General Business License in Evansville

   Evansville does not require a general business or occupational license for dog grooming businesses, commercial storefront or mobile. The city's licensing list covers only specific regulated activities and does not include this trade. Confirm zoning compliance with the Area Plan Commission for a commercial location.

   Official government source

   Not applicable·Not applicable

   Not applicable

   Not applicable

2. Evansville — Zoning Approval & Grooming Shop / Kennel Permit

   Confirm a commercial location is zoned for retail or personal services with the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission, which handles zoning and Improvement Location Permits for both the city and the county — the City Clerk does not do zoning verification. Evansville also permits animal businesses under Evansville Municipal Code 6.05: a Grooming shop permit is required, and a Kennel/cattery permit or an Animal establishment permit applies if animals are also boarded, housed, or sold. These permits are issued by the city's Animal Care & Control department on approval of the Animal Control Commission after an on-site inspection by an Animal Control Officer.

   Official government source

   Area Plan Commission fee schedule effective January 1, 2026: Change of Business $100, Zoning Certificate $100, new structure or change of use $200 plus $0.05 per sq ft. Animal permits under EMC 6.05.030(B)(11): Grooming shop $50 per year; Kennel/cattery $25 for 1–6 dogs or cats, $50 for 7–15, $75 for 16–25, $100 for 26 or more; Animal establishment $125 per premises.·The Area Plan Commission's Site Review Committee meets weekly — plans submitted by Monday 4:00 p.m. are reviewed the following Monday. Apply for the animal permit at least 30 days before beginning operations; it issues only after inspection and Animal Control Commission approval.

   Area Plan Commission fee schedule effective January 1, 2026: Change of Business $100, Zoning Certificate $100, new structure or change of use $200 plus $0.05 per sq ft. Animal permits under EMC 6.05.030(B)(11): Grooming shop $50 per year; Kennel/cattery $25 for 1–6 dogs or cats, $50 for 7–15, $75 for 16–25, $100 for 26 or more; Animal establishment $125 per premises.

   The Area Plan Commission's Site Review Committee meets weekly — plans submitted by Monday 4:00 p.m. are reviewed the following Monday. Apply for the animal permit at least 30 days before beginning operations; it issues only after inspection and Animal Control Commission approval.

3. Evansville — Grooming Shop Inspection by Animal Care & Control

   Evansville does not run a health-department inspection program for pet grooming salons; the Vanderburgh County Health Department's environmental health work covers food establishments, not animal-care facilities. Sanitation for groomers is instead handled through the city's Animal Care & Control department under Evansville Municipal Code 6.05: a Grooming shop permit is issued only after an on-site inspection by an Animal Control Officer and approval by the Animal Control Commission, and Animal Control Officers may inspect the premises annually. Zoning for the location is confirmed separately by the Area Plan Commission.

   Official government source

   $50 per year (Grooming shop permit, Evansville Municipal Code 6.05.030(B)(11)) — the inspection is part of that permit, not a separate fee. There is no separate health-department inspection fee for grooming.·Apply at least 30 days before beginning operations, or 30 days before the current permit expires; the inspection and Animal Control Commission approval must be completed before the permit issues.

   $50 per year (Grooming shop permit, Evansville Municipal Code 6.05.030(B)(11)) — the inspection is part of that permit, not a separate fee. There is no separate health-department inspection fee for grooming.

   Apply at least 30 days before beginning operations, or 30 days before the current permit expires; the inspection and Animal Control Commission approval must be completed before the permit issues.

Official Sources

• Indiana State Board of Animal Health
• Evansville Business Licensing
• National Dog Groomers Association of America

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