Exeter Municipal Code Ch. 6.28 Commercial Animal Establishments

A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to erect, establish, maintain any commercial animal establishment or pet shop without first obtaining a business license from the city and that business license may not be issued until after inspection and approval of the conditions of the commercial animal establishment by the poundmaster according to the requirements of this chapter. Such business license shall be issued pursuant to city licensing regulations; however, the poundmaster may suspend it at any time an inspection reveals a violation of the provisions of this chapter.

B. Every person within the city who owns, conducts, manages, or operates any commercial animal establishment for which a city business license or special use permit is required shall comply with each of the following conditions:

1. Housing facilities shall be structurally sound and shall be maintained in good repair to protect animals from injury and restrict entrance of other animals;

2. All animals and all animal buildings or enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition;

3. All animals shall be supplied with sufficient good and wholesome food and water as often as the feeding habits of the respective animals require;

4. Animal buildings and enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so as to prevent escape of animals;

5. All reasonable precautions shall be taken to protect the public from the animals and animals from the public;

6. Every building or enclosure wherein animals are maintained shall be properly ventilated to prevent drafts and to remove odors. Heating and cooling shall be provided as required according to the physical needs of the animals;

7. All animal rooms, cages, and runs shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate and proper housing for animals kept therein;

8. All animal runs shall be of concrete and provided with adequate drainage into an approved sewer or individual sewer disposal installation;

9. All animals shall be taken to a licensed veterinarian for an examination and treatment if so ordered by the animal control officer;

10. Every violation of applicable regulation shall be corrected within reasonable time to be specified by the animal control officer;

11. Commercial animal establishments shall comply with all other applicable city codes and ordinances; and

12. All commercial animal establishments may be inspected from time to time by an animal control officer to investigate any complaints of violations of the provisions of this chapter.

C. Failure of the applicant for said license or special use permit to comply with any one of the foregoing conditions shall be deemed just cause for the denial of any business license, whether original or renewal and/or the issuance of a citation for violations pursuant to provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. Application for all kennel or breeder permits pursuant to this chapter shall be filed with the poundmaster on a form prescribed by the pound-master. Fees charged for these permits shall be set annually by resolution of city council as recommended by the poundmaster. The kennel and breeder permits shall be issued for the calendar year or any part thereof and are effective from January 1 of each year and expire on December 31 of that same year. The full amount of the permit fee shall be paid even though the permit is issued for only a portion of a permit year. Renewal and payment of the permit is due and payable on January 1 of each year. The poundmaster shall collect a delinquent penalty in an amount equal to the amount as established for license penalties.

B. The failure to obtain the appropriate permit is punishable as an infraction as set forth herein.

C. Any or all of the permits within this Code may be immediately suspended for any violations of the conditions for commercial animal establishments pursuant to Section 6.28.010.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. It is unlawful for any person(s) to own, maintain, or harbor, any more than a total of four dogs and/or cats combined within the city limits without first obtaining a kennel permit (or breeder permit for animals less than four months in age) from the poundmaster. The issuance of the permit shall be at the discretion of the poundmaster who shall take into consideration the manner in which the animals are housed, sanitation and noise factors, as well as animal control regulations. The kennel permit may also require the payment of a separate kennel permit fee at the rate set by city council. Kennel permits shall contain the same requirements as commercial establishments for the health and safety of animals and the general public.

B. Effective March 1, 2026 the City of Exeter will not issue kennel permits to locations that have not previously been issued a kennel permit within the prior three years. This prohibition on new kennel permits shall not apply to kennel permits for commercially operated kennels established after this date in a land use zone that allows such usage under the City of Exeter Zoning Ordinance and the kennel has complied with all other applicable zoning requirements.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. It is unlawful for any person to breed more than one litter of dogs and/or cats in one year for sale or profit or to advertise for the sale/adoption of such animals without first obtaining a breeder permit.

B. The fees for a breeder permit shall be set by resolution of the city council and must be submitted to the poundmaster for the breeding of dogs or cats that produce one or more litters in a year, as well as advertising for the sale of dogs and cats within the city limits. Breeding permit requirements are as follows:

1. No offspring can be sold/adopted until eight weeks of age;

2. No offspring can be sold/adopted until vaccinated against common diseases; and

3. The breeder permit holder must display the permit number when advertising the animals for sale/adoption.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

It is unlawful for any person to advertise for the sale/adoption of a litter of dogs or cats in the city without including in the advertisement a city breeder permit number. A litter shall be defined as two or more offspring from the same female dog or cat.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

Every commercial animal establishment holder of a breeder permit, holder of a kennel permit and others who sell/adopt animals for consideration must keep permanent records of all dogs/cats sold/adopted and forward such information on a monthly basis to the poundmaster for licensing and confirmation of rabies vaccination.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)