Retail Animal Sales Ordinance-v4 — File 26-1111

CITY OF SOMERVILLE ORDINANCE NO. 2026- IN CITY COUNCIL: ________, 2026 Be it ordained by the City Council, in session assembled, that Chapter 3, Article I of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville is amended as follows by inserting the following Section 3-5. Sec. 3-5. – Retail sale of animals. (a) A retail store that is required to be licensed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 129 § 39A or 330 CMR 12.00 may not sell or otherwise transfer any animal. (b) A retail store may provide space for the display of animals available for adoption if: (1) The animals are displayed and made available for adoption exclusively by a shelter, animal rescue organization, or public animal control agency, and are accompanied by a conspicuous sign listing the name and contact information of the organization responsible for each animal; (2) The host retail store has no ownership in the animals displayed and no portion of the fee associated with the adoption or display of an animal is paid to the host retail store or any legal entity affiliated with or under common ownership with the host retail store; and, (3) The host retail store maintains records sufficient to document the source of each animal displayed for at least one year following the date of acquisition, and makes those records available immediately upon request to an officer responsible for enforcing this section. (c) The Somerville Police Department, Animal Control, and the Inspectional Services Department are authorized to enforce the provisions of this section in accordance with § 1-11. Be it further ordained by the city council that Section 1-11(b) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville is hereby amended by inserting the following: Offense Fine Enforcing Personnel Retail sale of animals $300.00 Police; animal control; inspectional services Approved: President Approved: Mayor