Sale of Small Animals (Pet Shops)

If you submitted your application online, you will receive a receipt via e-mail. If you submitted it in person, DCWP will hand you a receipt. You will be notified if there are any deficiencies in your application which must be corrected to continue processing your application.

Your business may not begin to operate until it has received and passed a pre-permit inspection and received explicit approval to operate from the Department.

After you have submitted your complete application, you must contact the DOHMH Bureau of Veterinary Public Health Services (VPHS) at (646) 364-1783 to schedule an inspection. 

Permit applicants of newly renovated establishments should call to schedule an inspection once construction is nearly complete, and all plumbing fixtures have been installed.

Once you pass the pre-permit inspection and VPHS has approved both your inspection results and application package you will be notified when you may begin to offer small animal handling services to the public.

You will receive your actual permit in the mail. You must post both the permit and the Animal Care & Handling Certificate for public view.