Alabama Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Alabama does not require a statewide dog breeder license, so there is no state-level threshold that forces breeders to register with a state agency. Instead, whether you need a license depends on federal rules and your local city or county rules. Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, the USDA requires a license for anyone who maintains more than four breeding females and sells dogs sight-unseen, such as online, by phone, by mail, or to brokers or pet stores. Local governments may add their own rules: some Alabama cities and counties require a kennel permit or a business license, and Gadsden's city code requires an annual $200 commercial breeder permit, on top of a business license, for commercial breeders, which the code defines to include anyone producing three or more litters a year or selling puppies from that breeding. Because these local rules vary a lot, breeders should check with their own city and county before starting.

There is no state application for a dog breeder license in Alabama because the state does not issue one. If you meet the federal threshold, you apply to the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for a federal Animal Welfare Act license. For local permits, contact your city clerk or county office to learn whether you need a kennel permit, a commercial breeder permit, or a business license, and to find out what forms, fees, and zoning approvals apply. Some areas may require a conditional use permit or a public hearing before you can operate a kennel.

Alabama does not charge a state dog breeder license fee because it has no state breeder license. Any costs you face come from federal USDA licensing or from local permits and business licenses, and these amounts vary by location. Check with your city or county for local permit fees. Breeders who need a federal USDA license pay a $120 fee for a license that is valid for three years.

Alabama does not conduct state-level inspections of dog breeding operations because it has no state breeder licensing program. Alabama law does not require breeder inspections or limit the number of breeding dogs. Breeders who hold a federal USDA license are subject to inspection by USDA APHIS under the Animal Welfare Act. Local governments may also inspect kennels as part of their own permit or zoning process, but the details vary by city and county.

Alabama does not impose statewide record-keeping rules specifically for dog breeders, since there is no state breeder license. Breeders who hold a federal USDA license must follow the record-keeping requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, which generally include records of the dogs they buy, sell, and transport. Keeping thorough health records and giving buyers documentation of vaccinations and veterinary care is strongly advised, because it helps protect against consumer-protection claims.

Because Alabama has no state breeder license, there is no state penalty for breeding without one. Breeders who are required to hold a federal USDA license but operate without it, or who violate the Animal Welfare Act, can face a federal civil penalty of up to $14,575 for each violation (the current inflation-adjusted maximum). Separately, Beau's Law (SB361, Act 2026-427), which took effect October 1, 2026, sets statewide rules for tethering and confining dogs and shelter standards for dogs kept outside, with a Class C misdemeanor for a first violation, a Class B misdemeanor for a second, and a Class A misdemeanor for a third or later violation; violators must also pay the full cost of boarding and veterinary care for the dog. Beau's Law exempts commercial dog breeders that hold a USDA Class A dealer license under the Animal Welfare Act from its tethering and enclosure rules, but not from its outdoor shelter requirements. Breeders without a USDA license get no breeder exemption. Violating local kennel or breeder permit rules can also lead to local enforcement action, though the specifics vary by city and county.