Pet Sitting Business Permit Requirements in Columbus, OH

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Ohio — No State Pet Sitter License

   Ohio does not require a state license for pet sitting services, and in-home pet sitters who visit clients' homes are largely unregulated at the state level. Kennel registrations under ORC Chapter 955 are sold only by the county auditor, but ORC 955.01(F) defines a 'dog kennel' as an establishment keeping adult dogs for breeding for a fee, so a boarding facility is not automatically covered; the Ohio Department of Agriculture separately licenses only high-volume dog breeders under ORC Chapter 956. Local zoning and municipal rules are the main constraint on boarding.

   Official government source

   No state fee·N/A

   No state fee

   N/A

2. Ohio Business Registration

   LLCs, corporations, and partnerships must register with the Ohio Secretary of State (filed online at Ohio Business Central). Sole proprietors may register a trade name with the Ohio Secretary of State, not the county.

   Official government source

   $99 (LLC filing fee)·Immediate (online) to 3 business days

   $99 (LLC filing fee)

   Immediate (online) to 3 business days

1. Ohio Vendor's License (only if selling taxable goods)

   Columbus does not issue a general business license, so there is no city license to confirm for pet sitting. Pet sitting is not among the services made taxable by ORC 5739.01(B)(3), so service-only pet sitting needs no vendor's license. If you sell tangible goods (treats, toys, supplies), apply for a vendor's license with the Franklin County Auditor under ORC 5739.17.

   Official government source

   $50 per fixed place of business (ORC 5739.17; raised from $25 effective April 9, 2025)·Immediate to 1 week

   $50 per fixed place of business (ORC 5739.17; raised from $25 effective April 9, 2025)

   Immediate to 1 week

2. Franklin County Auditor — Kennel Registration (breeding kennels) / local zoning for boarding

   Ohio kennel registrations are sold only by the county auditor (ORC 955.04), but ORC 955.01(F) defines a 'dog kennel' as an establishment that keeps adult dogs for the purpose of breeding them for a fee — boarding clients' pets is not itself a kennel under that definition, and Ohio has no state boarding-kennel license. Contact the Franklin County Auditor to confirm whether your operation must register, and check local zoning with your municipality or Franklin County before boarding animals at a home or commercial site.

   Official government source

   $10 per kennel registration under ORC 955.04, unless the county commissioners have raised it under ORC 955.14 (increases are in $10 increments); confirm the current Franklin County amount with the Auditor·2–4 weeks (may require inspection)

   $10 per kennel registration under ORC 955.04, unless the county commissioners have raised it under ORC 955.14 (increases are in $10 increments); confirm the current Franklin County amount with the Auditor

   2–4 weeks (may require inspection)

3. Columbus Zoning — Home Occupation (if boarding from home)

   Boarding animals at your home may be restricted — or excluded entirely — under Columbus's zoning provisions for home occupations; several other Ohio cities specifically exclude kennels and animal boarding from home occupation as a nuisance use. Confirm directly with Columbus Building and Zoning Services (614-645-7433) whether animal boarding qualifies before assuming a home occupation covers it.

   Official government source

   No separate home-occupation permit fee appears in the City's 2026 Combined Development Related Fee Schedule; confirm the process for your address with Columbus Building and Zoning Services (614-645-7433).·2–4 weeks

   No separate home-occupation permit fee appears in the City's 2026 Combined Development Related Fee Schedule; confirm the process for your address with Columbus Building and Zoning Services (614-645-7433).

   2–4 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Columbus — Business Licenses and Resources
• Franklin County — Dog Shelter and Adoption

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