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.

31 Require a state license
0 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.

Dog breeder license fees by state
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. Local animal control offices enforce municipal ordinances, and the USDA enforces the federal Animal Welfare Act.
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 Kennel permit: $75 per year under A.R.S. 11-1009, or the county's actual cost of recovery (Maricopa County charges $350); no statewide breeder fee Under A.R.S. 11-1009, keeping 5+ dogs in a kennel requires a county kennel permit unless each dog is individually licensed; any kennel housing 20 or more dogs must allow county inspections as a condition of the permit County Boards of Supervisors handle kennel permits at the local level. The Arizona Department of Agriculture (Office of the State Veterinarian) sets health certificate requirements for dogs brought into Arizona but does not license breeders or pet dealers. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) handles federal licensing.
Arkansas No N/A (no state breeder license) No state threshold; local permits vary (often 5+ dogs); USDA license for more than 4 breeding females selling sight-unseen No single state agency licenses dog breeders in Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Division handles certain animal-health matters, and local jurisdictions handle kennel permits. Federal oversight comes from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
California No Varies by jurisdiction (for example, Fresno County charges $2,000 per year for each breeding animal plus a $50 application fee) No statewide license threshold; state breeder disclosure and warranty rules apply at 3 or more litters or 20 or more dogs a year (Health and Safety Code 122045), and local permits vary by city and county California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for dog import health documentation; local animal control/animal services agencies for breeding permits
Colorado Yes $450 (small-scale) / $550 (large-scale) per year More than two litters produced or more than 24 dogs transferred per 12-month period Colorado Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Welfare (PACFA Program)
Connecticut Yes $50 per year for up to 10 dogs; $100 for more than 10 dogs (Conn. Gen. Stat. 22-342(b)) More than 5 litters per year (Conn. Gen. Stat. 22-342) Local Town Clerks, with animal laws overseen by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg)
Delaware No Optional kennel license: $70 (up to 12 dogs), $140 (up to 25), $250 (up to 50), $300 (over 50) per year No breeder license; optional kennel license for more than 4 dogs Delaware Office of Animal Welfare, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services (dog licensing); the Office of Animal Welfare also issues optional kennel licenses statewide
Florida No N/A statewide (local county/city permit fees vary) No statewide breeder license; local permits and federal USDA licensing may apply None (no state breeder license); the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) publishes voluntary dog breeding best management practices, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) supplies the official certificate of veterinary inspection required for dog sales
Georgia Yes $100 to $400 per year, based on gross pet sales More than one litter or more than 30 animals sold in any 12-month period 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 required for sight-unseen sellers with 5+ breeding females 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 for an original license, then $100 per year to renew ($400 if not renewed by July 1) More than 5 unspayed females capable of reproduction, when breeding for sale Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare
Indiana Yes $75 to $500 per year, based on the number of unaltered females 12 months or older (IC 15-21-3-1) More than 19 unaltered females, 12+ months old Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH)
Iowa Yes $175 per year (Iowa Code 162.2B) 4+ intact breeding dogs or cats over 12 months, if you breed and sell Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Kansas Yes $250 hobby breeder; $450 retail breeder; $450 animal breeder (USDA-licensed); $70 late fee (K.A.R. 9-18-6) 3 or more litters per license year, or 30 or more dogs or cats sold or kept for sale (K.S.A. 47-1701) 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 Yes Varies by parish; state law sets minimums of $15 (up to 5 dogs over six months old), $25 (6 to 10), or $30 (more than 10) under R.S. 3:2772(G) (USDA license, if needed, is $120 for three years) 5 or more dogs, if you breed and sell dogs, triggers the state-required kennel license (R.S. 3:2772(G)); 75-dog cap on dogs over one year old kept for breeding (R.S. 3:2772(H)); USDA applies to breeders with more than four breeding females who sell sight-unseen Parish-level and city Animal Services offices regulate local breeder permits. The kennel license itself is required by state law (R.S. 3:2772) but is issued by the parish or municipal governing body, which sets the fee by ordinance. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) does not license dog breeders.
Maine Yes $125 (5 to 10 breeding females), $150 (11 to 20), $200 (21 or more), plus $25 per owner for a background check (7 M.R.S. section 3931-A(2)) 5+ adult female dogs/cats capable of reproduction whose offspring are sold, or more than 16 dogs/cats raised on the premises sold to the public in 12 months (7 M.R.S. section 3907(8-A)) Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), Animal Welfare Program
Maryland Yes Varies by county (not specified by official statewide source) 6+ unspayed females over 6 months kept for breeding, or dogs sold from 6+ litters a year (Md. Local Gov't § 13-108) County (and Baltimore City) licensing agencies under Maryland Code, Local Government § 13-108, which report kennel license data yearly to the Maryland Department of Labor; USDA APHIS handles federal commercial breeder licensing
Massachusetts Yes Set by municipality (varies by town); kennel license fees and terms are set locally; example individual dog license fees are about $10 to $30 More than 4 dogs aged 3 months or older, or any commercial breeder kennel (sells to wholesalers, brokers, or pet shops) Municipal licensing authorities (city and town clerks, or the police commissioner in Boston), with kennel inspections by local Animal Control Officers and limited state oversight from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), which collects annual kennel lists from municipalities
Michigan Yes Individual dog license varies by county (e.g., $16 altered / $46 unaltered in Kalamazoo County; $10 for puppies in Van Buren County); state law sets county kennel license fees at $10 for up to 10 dogs and $25 for more than 10, though local fees vary; MDARD large-scale kennel registration is $500 per year Multiple dogs may trigger a county kennel license (e.g., more than 4 dogs in some counties such as Shiawassee); breeders with more than 15 intact females over 4 months old that have previously whelped must register with MDARD (MCL 287.331 and 287.336) 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 (Minn. Stat. 347.58) 10+ adult intact dogs or cats (28 weeks or older) AND more than 5 litters/year Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Mississippi No N/A at state level (Meridian city breeder fee: $10) No state threshold; federal USDA license for more than 4 breeding females selling sight unseen No Mississippi state agency licenses dog breeders. The Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) oversee animal health and agriculture; MBAH sets entry rules for dogs brought into the state, but neither agency licenses dog breeders. Federal licensing is handled by USDA APHIS Animal Care.
Missouri Yes $125 to start ($100 license fee plus $25 Operation Bark Alert fee); renewals are $125 plus $1 per animal sold or given away the prior year, capped at $2,525 (RSMo 273.327; 2 CSR 30-9.020) More than 3 intact females kept for breeding Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division (Animal Care Facilities Act Program)
Montana No N/A statewide; local fees vary (e.g., $100 kennel fee in Cut Bank; $100-$150 county kennel license in Missoula County) No state threshold; local governments set kennel thresholds; USDA rules apply to breeders with more than four breeding females selling sight-unseen 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 $125 one-time license fee, plus an annual fee from $175 (10 or fewer dogs) to $2,100 (more than 500), plus $2 per dog over 10 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 54-627) Commercial breeders; 4+ dogs intended for breeding, 31+ dogs sold or transferred, or 4+ litters in a 12-month period starting April 1, or selling dogs for resale (Neb. Rev. Stat. 54-626) Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Nevada Yes Varies by locality; no statewide breeder fee confirmed Commercial breeders; exact numeric thresholds set by each local ordinance Local city and county governments (mandated under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 574); the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industry, handles related animal matters
New Hampshire Yes $200 nonrefundable pet vendor license fee; licenses expire June 30 each year (RSA 437:3) 30 or more dogs (or 30 cats, 30 ferrets, or 50 birds) transferred to the public per calendar year (RSA 437:1, IV) New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food
New Jersey Yes $10 a year for a kennel with 10 or fewer dogs, $25 for more than 10 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.9); individual dog license fees vary by town Any establishment where breeding dogs for sale is carried on as a business (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1); USDA Class A dealer rules may apply Local municipal governments (under New Jersey Department of Health guidelines); the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs oversees pet shop sales under the Pet Purchase Protection Act
New Mexico No Varies by locality; Albuquerque charges $150 per animal per year for an Intact Companion Animal Permit and $150 for each Companion Animal Litter Permit Set by local government (often around 5+ dogs); federal USDA license may apply with more than four breeding females selling 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 $150 application fee; annual renewal $100, or $25 for dealers selling fewer than 25 animals a year (AML 403) More than 9 animals sold per year to the public; breeders selling fewer than 25 a year, all born and raised on their residential premises, are exempt (AML 400) New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
North Carolina Yes $75 per fiscal year (G.S. 19A-29) Selling to dealers, pet shops, or research facilities and breeding the offspring of more than 5 females a year (G.S. 19A-23) North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Animal Welfare Section
North Dakota No N/A (no state license); local kennel fees may apply No state threshold; federal USDA rules may apply if more than 4 breeding females and selling sight-unseen or wholesale North Dakota does not license dog breeders at the state level. General animal welfare is governed by North Dakota Century Code Chapter 36-21.2, and local governments may issue kennel permits. Federal licensing is handled by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Ohio Yes Varies; individual dog licenses set by county (e.g., $15-$20 per dog); state high volume breeder license $150 to $750 a year based on puppies sold (R.C. 956.07); county kennel registration from $10 (R.C. 955.04) County kennel registration for anyone breeding adult dogs for sale; state license for 6+ breeding dogs plus 40+ puppies sold to the public or 5+ dogs sold to brokers or pet stores a year (R.C. 956.01) Ohio Department of Agriculture (state high-volume breeder licensing); County Auditor (county kennel and dog licensing)
Oklahoma Yes $200 to $650 a year by number of intact females (11 to 20 females: $200), plus a $100 prelicense inspection fee (OAC 35:55-1-8) 11+ intact female dogs/cats (9+ months old) kept for breeding or sale 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 to $950 a year by kennel class and number of dogs (up to 50 dogs: $100); boarding kennels $125 to $325 (3 P.S. 459-206) 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 kept for breeding, or more than 10 puppies or kittens bred or sold per year Puerto Rico Department of Health, Oficina Estatal para el Control de Animales (OECA)
Rhode Island Yes $100 per year (license runs July 1 to June 30) More than 2 litters whelped per calendar year, or any wholesale or occupational breeding for sale (§ 4-19-2) Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment
South Carolina No N/A (no state license currently exists) No state threshold (S. 720, which did not pass, would have set 10+ intact females or more than 15 puppies or two litters a 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) No state threshold; federal USDA license may apply (more than four breeding females selling sight-unseen) South Dakota Animal Industry Board
Tennessee No N/A No state threshold; federal: more than four 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 (5 to 10 females), $300 (11 to 25), or $500 (26 or more) per year 5 or more adult intact female dogs or cats bred for sale (no minimum number of sales) 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 (e.g., four or more in some areas) No state agency licenses or permits dog breeders; local city and county governments handle licensing, kennel permits, and zoning
Vermont Yes $25 per year for the municipal pet dealer permit (expires March 31); state registration with the Division of Animal Welfare is free 3 or more litters sold or exchanged in 12 months Local Town Clerks (permit issuance); Division of Animal Welfare, Vermont Department of Public Safety (pet dealer registration); Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (Animal Welfare Rules care standards and inspections)
Virginia Yes Set by local government (varies by locality); no single statewide fee specified in state sources 30 or more adult female dogs kept in a 12-month period to sell their offspring; no more than 50 breeding dogs over one year old unless a local ordinance allows more Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (state oversight of companion animals); local city and county 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 No state breeder licensing agency (RCW 16.52.310 limits and care standards are enforced by local animal control and law enforcement); local county and city governments (animal and kennel licensing)
Washington D.C. Yes $25 per year (hobby permit, confirmed by DC Health); commercial breeder license fee not published (contact DC Health) More than 25 animals bred and raised for sale 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: up to $250/year (Class I, 11 to 30 dogs) or up to $500/year (Class II, more than 30 dogs) 11 or more unsterilized dogs over age 1 kept for breeding, while in the business of breeding dogs for sale (W. Va. Code § 19-20-26) County Commissions (with animal-health oversight from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture)
Wisconsin Yes $550 to $2,200 per year depending on dogs sold (25 to 49: $550; 50 to 99: $1,100; 100 to 249: $1,650; 250 or more: $2,200) 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 N/A (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