Animal Venues
Program Contact
Stacey Koltas
Program Manager
216.201.2000 ext 1253
skoltas@ccbh.net
The Animal Venue Program is conducted under the authority of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health Animal Venue Regulation. All animal venues that operate within our jurisdiction are required to obtain an annual Animal Venue Permit to Operate.
An animal venue includes any operation that sells, distributes or exhibits animals to the public. The Animal Venue Permit is valid from May 1 to April 30 of each year. CCBH conducts a minimum of one inspection per year to ensure compliance with the Animal Venue Regulation.
The application for an animal venue permit must be submitted in April of each year.
An application for a temporary animal venue permit must be submitted at least one week prior to participating in an event.
Animal Venue Permit Application Forms
CCBH Animal Venue Regulation
Federal and State Regulation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture governs venues that sell exotic animals or that exhibit animals under the Animal Welfare Act.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture all have roles in regulating the international and interstate movement of animals.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Division of Wildlife regulates the possession and propagation of wild native species. Private or commercial ownership of four or more wild animals that are indigenous to Ohio requires a permit to ensure conservation of wild native species.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture regulates the livestock and poultry industries for purposes of food safety, and animal health and welfare. Ohio Revised Code requires that diseases classified as Dangerously Contagious and Infectious, as well as any unusual morbidity and mortality of unknown cause, be reported to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture also governs dangerous wild animals.