California Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

California does not issue one statewide dog breeder license. Instead, whether you need a permit depends mostly on your city or county. Many local agencies, such as Los Angeles, Fresno County, and others, require a breeding permit, and some require a separate permit for each intact or female animal being bred. In Tulare County, for example, anyone breeding dogs for sale must get a county breeder permit for each breeding female (Tulare County Code 4-07-4300), and Fresno County requires a separate permit for each dog bred, male or female. On top of any local rules, newer state regulations effective January 1, 2026 extend certain obligations, such as disclosure requirements and deposit rules, to anyone who breeds and sells dogs, not just large commercial breeders. You should always contact your local animal control or health department to confirm the exact rules where you live.

Because permits are handled locally, you apply through your city or county animal services or environmental health department rather than through one state agency. For example, the City of Los Angeles has used a Breeder's Permit Application (Form 105E) that must include the permit fee, a microchip number, and intact-license information, but the city has not issued new dog breeding permits since a moratorium took effect on May 27, 2024 (LAMC 53.15.2(f)), and Fresno County issues a breeding permit that also requires a business tax license. Start by contacting your local animal control or health department to get the correct application and fee schedule. You will typically need proof of rabies vaccination, microchip information, and details about the dogs you are breeding. If you sell dogs, you may also need a seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration; state tax law treats anyone making more than two retail sales in a 12-month period as a retailer (Revenue and Taxation Code 6019), and CDTFA generally requires a seller's permit for three or more sales of substantial amount in 12 months (Regulation 1595).

There is no single statewide breeder license fee in California. Fees are set locally and vary a lot by city and county. Fresno County charges a nonrefundable $50 application fee plus $2,000 per year for each animal to be bred and also requires a business tax license, while the City of Los Angeles has not issued new dog breeding permits since a moratorium took effect on May 27, 2024. One news source reported that the City of Selma was considering a breeding permit costing up to $500, but that figure is a local proposal and not a statewide fee. Check with your city or county for exact amounts.

California does not run one statewide breeder inspection program; inspections depend on local permit rules and on any federal requirements. Breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen above the federal breeding-female threshold may fall under USDA Animal Welfare Act licensing and inspection under 9 CFR Part 2. State law requires breeders covered by the Pet Breeder Warranty Act to keep facilities sanitary, provide adequate food, water, space, socialization, and exercise, and provide veterinary care without delay when needed, and bars primarily housing a dog on wire flooring (Health and Safety Code 122065 and 122065.5); local permits may add their own standards. Contact your local animal services agency for inspection details.

Under the Pet Breeder Warranty Act, breeders who sold or gave away 3 or more litters or 20 or more dogs in the past 12 months must give each buyer a signed written disclosure about the dog's origin and health (Health and Safety Code 122050) and keep a written record of the health, status, and disposition of each dog for at least one year after it leaves their care (Health and Safety Code 122055). Under laws taking effect January 1, 2026, sellers must disclose a dog's origin, basic health status, and what inoculations, if any, have been given (Assembly Bill 506). Senate Bill 312 (Food and Agricultural Code 31000) requires anyone selling, transporting, or importing a dog into California for resale or change of ownership to electronically submit a health certificate to the California Department of Food and Agriculture and to the buyer, based on a veterinary exam dated no more than 10 days before the dog enters the state, and the CDFA is to make these certificates available to the public. Keep complete, accurate records to protect yourself and your buyers.

Penalties for breeding or selling without following the rules come from both state consumer protection law and local permit ordinances. Under Assembly Bill 506 (Health and Safety Code 122225 to 122231, effective January 1, 2026), any contract to sell a dog, cat, or rabbit to a California purchaser is void if it includes or requires a nonrefundable deposit, whether the seller is a breeder, broker, or anyone else, and the seller must refund the money within 30 days of receiving notice; buyers can sue for recovery, injunctive relief, and attorney fees, and public prosecutors can also enforce the law. Assembly Bill 519 (Health and Safety Code 122365 to 122365.1) bars brokers, meaning people or businesses that sell or arrange sales of dogs, cats, or rabbits bred by someone else for profit, from selling or offering for sale a dog under one year old, a cat, or a rabbit, with exemptions such as owners who transfer no more than three animals a year, shelters, and rescue groups. Sellers can also be held liable if they fail to disclose breeder details and medical history. Local agencies may impose their own fines or revoke permits for breeding without a required local permit; check your local ordinance for local amounts. Under state law, a breeder covered by the Pet Breeder Warranty Act faces a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation (Health and Safety Code 122110), and knowingly selling a sick dog carries escalating civil penalties of up to $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000 plus possible bans on selling dogs (Health and Safety Code 122060).