Arkansas Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Arkansas does not require a statewide license just to breed dogs, and multiple sources list it among the states with no commercial pet breeder licensing law. Because there is no state breeder license, the main requirements come from two other places: local government and the federal government. Many Arkansas cities and counties require a kennel permit once you keep a certain number of dogs, and for example, the city codes of Hot Springs and Siloam Springs require an annual kennel permit for keeping more than four dogs, plus a kennel or animal establishment permit for a dog breeding business. On the federal side, the USDA requires a license under the Animal Welfare Act for anyone who maintains more than four breeding females and sells dogs sight-unseen (online, by phone, by mail, to brokers, or to pet stores). Arkansas has no state law that requires commercial dog breeders to be licensed, no matter how many breeding females they keep.

Because Arkansas has no statewide dog breeder license, there is no single state application to complete. Breeders should first contact their city or county government, animal control office, or zoning office to find out if a local kennel permit is required where they live, since these rules and fees vary by location. If you have more than four breeding females and sell dogs sight-unseen, you must apply for a federal license through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); information is available at the APHIS website. You may also need to check with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Division (agriculture.arkansas.gov/animals) for any animal-health rules that apply. Retail pet stores that sell dogs or cats must register each year with the Arkansas Department of Health under the Arkansas Retail Pet Store Consumer Protection Act, but breeding kennels that sell their own dogs directly to buyers are excluded from that law.

There is no statewide dog breeder license fee in Arkansas because the state does not issue such a license. Local kennel permits, where required, carry their own fees set by each city or county, and these often include licensing fees as part of zoning and inspection processes. For example, Hot Springs charges a $100 initial application fee and $50 a year to renew a kennel permit, and Siloam Springs charges $25 a year, so breeders must confirm costs with their local government. The federal USDA license fee is $120 for a license that is valid for three years.

Arkansas does not run a statewide dog breeder inspection program because it has no state breeder license. Where a local kennel permit is required, cities and counties may include inspections and zoning compliance as part of the permit process. If you hold a federal USDA license, APHIS conducts inspections of licensed facilities under the Animal Welfare Act to check care standards. Check with your city or county for local inspection rules.

Arkansas sources reviewed here do not describe specific state recordkeeping rules for dog breeders, since there is no statewide breeder license. Breeders holding a federal USDA license must follow the recordkeeping requirements set under the Animal Welfare Act, which cover information about the animals they buy, sell, and keep. Local kennel permits may also require certain records as a condition of the permit. Breeders should confirm exact recordkeeping duties with their local government and, if licensed, with USDA APHIS.

Because Arkansas has no statewide dog breeder license, there is no specific state penalty for breeding without a state license. However, breeders who ignore local kennel permit or zoning rules can face enforcement and penalties set by their city or county. Breeders who need a federal USDA license but operate without one can face enforcement action under the Animal Welfare Act, including civil penalties of up to $14,575 per violation. Check local ordinances for exact fine amounts.