Dog Breeder License Fees and Costs by State (2026)
Compare dog breeder licensing fees, thresholds, and regulatory agencies across all 50 US states, DC, and Puerto Rico. Costs range from $0 in states with no license requirement to $500+ per year in some commercial-breeder programs — plus the federal USDA license fee of $120 per 3 years.
30 Require a state license
1 License depends on volume
21 No state license
At a Glance
Fees shown are the most common annual or initial licensing fee in each state. Many states charge tiered fees based on number of dogs, number of litters, or gross receipts. This page is a quick comparison — visit each state page for complete requirements, exemptions, and official sources.
Federal USDA license: $120 application fee, valid for 3 years. Required in addition to any state license for breeders with more than 4 breeding females who sell dogs sight-unseen.
| State | License Required? | Annual / Initial Fee | Threshold | Regulatory Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | N/A | No state threshold; USDA requires more than 4 breeding females for sight-unseen sales | No single state agency oversees dog breeding in Alabama. The state does not have an agency that regulates companion animal breeding, shelters, or rescues; local animal control offices enforce municipal ordinances. |
| Alaska | No | N/A | No state threshold; federal USDA rules may apply, and local municipalities set their own | No single Alaska state agency oversees dog breeding. Federal oversight falls under the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Local municipalities handle animal control and may issue kennel permits. |
| Arizona | No | Varies by county (e.g., ~$30 dog license in Casa Grande); no statewide breeder fee | Reported 5+ dogs in a controlled area needs a county kennel permit; commercial breeders with more than 20 dogs may face inspection | County Boards of Supervisors (county-level administration); USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for federal licensing. The Arizona Department of Agriculture has some authority over pet dealers and interstate sales. |
| Arkansas | No | N/A (no state breeder license) | No state threshold; local permits vary; USDA license for 4+ breeding females selling sight-unseen | No single state agency licenses dog breeders. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Animal Health Division) handles some animal matters, and the Arkansas Department of Health registers retail pet stores. Local jurisdictions handle kennel permits. |
| California | Depends | Varies by jurisdiction (local proposals up to $500) | 3+ litters or 20+ dogs per year (state consumer law); local permits often at a lower number and vary by county | California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for dog import documentation; local animal control/animal services agencies for breeding permits |
| Colorado | Yes | $450 (small-scale) / $550 (large-scale) — confirm with CDA | More than 24 dogs transferred per year | Colorado Department of Agriculture, Inspection and Consumer Services Division |
| Connecticut | Yes | Varies by town; not fully specified by official state sources (one town lists a $51.00 10-tag kennel license) | More than 2 litters per year (per non-government sources; not confirmed by an official state source) | Local Town Clerks, with animal laws overseen by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) |
| Delaware | Yes | Not specified by available sources; contact Office of Animal Welfare or your county | More than 4 dogs kept for breeding, sale, show, or training | Delaware Office of Animal Welfare, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services |
| Florida | No | N/A statewide (county fees vary) | No statewide breeder license; pet dealer status at 3+ litters or 30+ dogs sold/year | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), working with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) |
| Georgia | Yes | $50 to $400 (unconfirmed by official source; verify with GDA) | 3+ litters/year or 30+ dogs sold/year (thresholds raised in 2026) | Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection Section |
| Hawaii | No | N/A (no state license) | No statewide threshold | No statewide agency licenses dog breeders. County governments handle general dog licensing, and proposed bills would have given the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity a role in a breeder registry. |
| Idaho | No | Varies by city/county (no state fee) | No state threshold; USDA license may apply for sight-unseen sellers | No single Idaho state agency licenses dog breeders. Local city and county governments handle kennel and breeder permits. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture oversees animal industry matters but not companion animal breeding. |
| Illinois | Yes | $350 | More than 5 unspayed females capable of reproduction | Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare |
| Indiana | Yes | $75 to $500 (based on number of dogs) | More than 19 unaltered females, 12+ months old | Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) |
| Iowa | Yes | $175 (reported by non-government sources; not confirmed by an official source) | 4+ intact dogs over 12 months used for breeding or sale | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship |
| Kansas | Yes | Varies by license tier (contact KDA) | 3+ litters per year or 30+ dogs | Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health |
| Kentucky | No | N/A (no state fee; local fees vary) | No state threshold; varies by county or city | No single state agency; regulation occurs at the county and city level, with federal oversight by USDA APHIS |
| Louisiana | No | Varies by parish ordinance (not specified in official sources) | Set by local parish (e.g., any for-profit breeding in Caddo Parish) | Parish-level and city Animal Services offices; no single confirmed statewide agency in these results |
| Maine | Yes | Not confirmed by official sources this run; prior on-file range $125-$200 by category | 5+ adult female dogs/cats capable of reproduction (per non-government sources; not confirmed by official statute) | Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) |
| Maryland | Yes | Varies by county (not specified by official statewide source) | Reported as 6+ unspayed females over 6 months or dogs from 6+ litters/year (unconfirmed by official source) | Local (county and municipal) licensing authorities; USDA APHIS handles federal commercial breeder licensing |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Set by municipality (varies by town) | More than 4 dogs, or any breeding kennel | Municipal licensing authorities (town/city clerks and Animal Control Officers), with oversight from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) |
| Michigan | Yes | Individual dog license varies by county (e.g., $16 altered / $46 unaltered in Kalamazoo County); kennel and state large-scale registration fees not confirmed by official sources in this run | Multiple dogs may trigger a county kennel license (e.g., more than 4 dogs in some counties); more than 15 intact females reportedly triggers MDARD registration (not fully confirmed by an official source) | County treasurers or county animal control offices (kennel licenses); Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) for large-scale breeder registration |
| Minnesota | Yes | $10 per adult intact animal, up to a maximum of $250 (confirm with the Board of Animal Health) | 10+ intact dogs or cats AND more than 5 litters/year | Minnesota Board of Animal Health |
| Mississippi | No | N/A at state level (Meridian city breeder fee: $10) | No confirmed state threshold; federal USDA license for sight-unseen commercial sales | No dedicated state dog breeder licensing agency confirmed. The Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) oversee animal health and agriculture. Federal licensing is handled by USDA APHIS Animal Care. |
| Missouri | Yes | $100-$2,500 plus $25 Bark Alert fee (not confirmed by an official source; verify with the Dept. of Agriculture) | More than 3 intact females | Missouri Department of Agriculture - Animal Care Division (Animal Health Division) |
| Montana | No | N/A statewide; local fees vary (e.g., $100 kennel fee in Cut Bank) | No state threshold; local governments set kennel thresholds; USDA rules apply to larger breeders | No single statewide breeder-licensing agency. Local city and county governments handle kennel licenses; the Montana Department of Livestock oversees animal health and import rules; the USDA (APHIS) oversees federal commercial breeder licensing. |
| Nebraska | Yes | Not confirmed by official sources in this research (prior on-file estimate: $125 initial + renewal based on dog count) | 4+ breeding dogs, 31+ dogs sold/year, or 4+ litters/year | Nebraska Department of Agriculture |
| Nevada | Yes | Varies by locality; no statewide fee confirmed (historically ~$200 in Henderson, unconfirmed) | Commercial breeders; exact numeric thresholds set by each local ordinance | Local city and county governments (mandate under Nevada Revised Statutes Section 574.353) |
| New Hampshire | Yes | $200 (commercial); $10 (registration) — not confirmed by an official source this run | 10+ dogs sold, exchanged, or transferred per year | New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food |
| New Jersey | No | No statewide fee; local dog/kennel fees vary by municipality | No statewide breeder threshold; varies locally; USDA Class A dealer rules may apply | Local municipal governments (under New Jersey Department of Health guidelines); New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs oversees pet shop sales under the Pet Purchase Protection Act |
| New Mexico | No | Varies by locality; Albuquerque charges $25 per litter without a hobby breeder permit | Set by local government (often around 5+ dogs); federal USDA license may apply for 4+ breeding females sold sight-unseen | Local city and county governments (state animal-welfare matters fall under general New Mexico statutes); the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service handles federal licensing. |
| New York | Yes | Tiered (approx. $25 for 9-25 animals; $100 for 25+ animals) — confirm with agency | More than 9 dogs/cats sold per year directly to the public for profit | New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets |
| North Carolina | Yes | $75 | More than offspring of 5 females per year | North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Animal Welfare Section |
| North Dakota | No | N/A (no state license) | No state threshold; federal USDA rules may apply if more than 4 breeding females and selling sight-unseen | North Dakota does not license dog breeders at the state level. The North Dakota State Board of Animal Health handles general animal health matters, and local governments may issue kennel permits. |
| Ohio | Yes | Varies by county (e.g., Stark County ~$80 for kennel license plus tags; Ross County $60 base); state high-volume breeder fee not confirmed in current sources | County kennel license for anyone professionally breeding dogs for sale/hunting; state regulation for high-volume commercial breeders (SB 232 pending would cover 6+ breeding dogs selling any number of dogs) | Ohio Department of Agriculture (state high-volume breeder licensing); County Auditor (county kennel and dog licensing) |
| Oklahoma | Yes | $125-$650 (based on number of dogs) | 11+ intact female dogs/cats (6+ months old) | Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) |
| Oregon | No | N/A (no state license) | Care standards apply at 10+ unsterilized dogs (8 months+); max 50 intact dogs (2 years+) for breeding | No state agency licenses dog breeders. Care standards under ORS Chapter 167 are enforced locally by animal control and law enforcement. The Oregon Department of Agriculture oversees some animal programs but does not license dog breeders. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | $100-$625+ (tiered by kennel class; verify current amounts) | 26+ dogs kept, harbored, boarded, or transferred in a calendar year | Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | $25 | 3+ intact females or 10+ puppies/year | Puerto Rico Department of Health, Oficina Estatal para el Control de Animales (OECA) |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Not specified in available sources — contact DEM | Reportedly 4 or more dogs kept for breeding/selling (§ 4-19-1); confirm exemptions with DEM | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment |
| South Carolina | No | N/A (no state license currently exists) | Proposed under S. 720: more than 10 female breeding dogs or 15+ puppies sold/year | No dedicated state agency oversees dog breeder licensing today. The pending S. 720 bill would give this job to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. |
| South Dakota | No | No state fee (federal USDA fees apply if required) | More than 3 unaltered dogs or more than 30 dogs sold/year to non-final owners | South Dakota Animal Industry Board |
| Tennessee | No | N/A | No state threshold; federal: 4+ breeding females selling sight-unseen | No active state licensing agency for dog breeders. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture handles general animal-welfare matters, and USDA APHIS enforces the federal Animal Welfare Act. |
| Texas | Yes | $150 - $500 (based on number of animals; verify current amounts with TDLR) | Commercial breeders meeting Chapter 802 intact-female and annual-sales limits (sources vary on exact numbers) | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| Utah | No | N/A statewide; varies by local jurisdiction | Set by city/county; local kennel permits often apply above a set number of dogs | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (state care standards and any commercial breeder permit framework); local city and county governments (licensing and kennel permits) |
| Vermont | Yes | Approx. $25 pet dealer permit (prior baseline; not confirmed in current sources — verify with town clerk) | 3 or more litters sold or exchanged in 12 months | Local Town Clerks (permit issuance); Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets / Animal Welfare Division (state animal welfare oversight) |
| Virginia | Yes | Set by local government (varies by locality); no single statewide fee specified | Commercial dog breeder; state law caps breeders at 50 dogs over one year old for breeding, and on-file definition uses 30+ adult female dogs in a 12-month period | Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (state oversight of companion animals) and local governments (issue the business license) |
| Washington | No | N/A at state level; varies by county/city | No state breeder license; local kennel permits vary; USDA license may apply for larger operations | Washington State Legislature (state animal-welfare law); local county and city governments (animal and kennel licensing) |
| Washington D.C. | Yes | $25 (hobby permit); commercial breeder fee not specified in available sources | 25+ animals bred/sold per year (commercial); 7+ animals over 4 months (hobby) | DC Health - Animal Services Program (under the DC Department of Health) |
| West Virginia | Yes | Set by county; reportedly up to $250 (Class I), unconfirmed by official source | 11 or more unsterilized dogs over age 1 kept for breeding | County Commissions (with animal-health oversight from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture) |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Not confirmed by official sources this run; prior record cited $250–$1,000 based on volume — verify with DATCP | At least 25 dogs sold per year from more than 3 litters (both conditions required) | Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) |
| Wyoming | No | No state fee; local fees vary | No state threshold; federal USDA license may apply to breeders with more than 4 breeding females selling sight-unseen | Local city and county governments (no single state agency oversees dog breeder licensing in Wyoming) |
Related Resources
- USDA Federal Licensing Requirements — Federal rules that apply on top of state rules.
- Licensing Glossary — What "threshold," "intact female," and "commercial breeder" mean.
- USDA Inspection Prep Guide — How inspections work and what they cost.
- Frequently Asked Questions — Common questions about breeder licensing.