If you breed dogs or are thinking about starting, one of the first questions you need to answer is whether you need a license. The answer depends on where you live, how many dogs you have, and how you sell them.
It Depends on Two Things
Dog breeder licensing in the United States works on two levels: state and federal. You may need one, both, or neither depending on your situation.
1. Your State's Laws
Every state has its own rules about dog breeding. Some states require a license if you have a certain number of breeding dogs (often 5 or more intact females). Other states only require a license if you sell a certain number of litters per year. A few states have no breeder license requirement at all.
For example, Missouri generally requires a commercial breeder license if you keep more than 3 intact females for breeding and sell puppies, though it has a separate category for hobby or show breeders. Texas requires a state breeder license from TDLR if you keep five or more adult intact female dogs or cats and breed them for sale. Pennsylvania requires a kennel license if you keep, harbor, board, sell, or transfer a total of 26 or more dogs in a calendar year. The rules vary widely.
Use our state-by-state directory to find the exact requirements for your state.
2. How You Sell Your Dogs
The federal government (USDA) requires a license if you maintain more than four breeding females and sell dogs sight-unseen (online, by phone, or by mail, where the buyer does not physically see the dog in person before the sale). Video calls do not count. Breeders with four or fewer breeding females who sell only offspring born and raised on their premises are exempt, even for sight-unseen sales (9 CFR 2.1(a)(3)(iii)).
If every one of your buyers comes to your home or facility and sees the dog in person before buying, you qualify as a retail pet store and do not need a USDA license. If you ship dogs to buyers and have more than four breeding females, you need a federal Class A Breeder license.
Common Exemptions
Many states exempt small-scale or hobby breeders from licensing. Common exemptions include:
- Breeders with fewer than a set number of intact females (often 4 or 5)
- Breeders who produce fewer than a set number of litters per year (often 1 to 3)
- People who breed dogs only for their own use or for show/competition
- People who give away puppies for free (in some states)
Even if you are exempt from your state's breeder license, you may still need a local kennel license from your city or county. Always check both state and local requirements.
What If I Breed Without a License?
Penalties vary by state but can include fines, seizure of your animals, and in serious cases, criminal charges. At the federal level, violating the Animal Welfare Act can result in civil penalties of up to $14,575 per violation (adjusted yearly for inflation), with each day a violation continues counted separately.
The safest approach is to check your requirements before you start breeding. It is much easier to get licensed upfront than to deal with penalties later.
Next Steps
- Find your state's requirements in our directory
- Read about USDA federal licensing if you sell online
- Verify a breeder's USDA license in our lookup tool
- Consult with a local attorney if you are unsure about your specific situation