Florida Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Florida does not currently require dog breeders to hold a mandatory statewide license to sell dogs. However, s. 828.29, Florida Statutes, sets health-certificate, vaccination, and minimum-age (8 weeks) rules for every dog offered for sale, and breeders who sell more than three litters or 30 dogs or cats a year to the public are "pet dealers" subject to the state's pet lemon law (SB 1004 raised this from two litters or 20 animals, effective July 1, 2026). Legislative analyses from the Florida House of Representatives state plainly that "Florida does not regulate dog breeding, leaving oversight of breeder practices largely unmonitored." In 2026, lawmakers considered bills (SB 1356 and HB 1521) that would have required breeders to register with the state, but the enacted law (SB 1004, Chapter 2026-76) instead created voluntary best management practices for dog breeders in s. 828.291, Florida Statutes rather than a mandatory registration requirement. Some counties require their own permits: Broward County requires an annual breeder permit for anyone who breeds, studs, or sells dogs or cats (Broward County Code 4-6.5), and Miami-Dade County requires a breeder, pet dealer, or hobby breeder license (Miami-Dade County Code 5-13), and local zoning and kennel rules can apply, so breeders should check with their city or county animal control office. Breeders with more than four breeding females who sell puppies sight unseen (for example, online or shipped) also need a federal USDA license under the Animal Welfare Act.

Because there is no mandatory statewide dog breeder license in Florida, there is no state application process for breeders. Breeders should contact their local county or city animal control office to find out if a local kennel permit, breeder permit, or business license is required where they operate. For example, Palm Beach County issues operational permits, including a Commercial Breeder permit for anyone who sells or breeds more than two litters or 20 dogs or cats a year, through its Department of Public Safety, Animal Care and Control. If your operation is large enough to need a federal license, you would apply through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Florida does not charge a statewide dog breeder license fee because no such license is required. Any fees would come from local county or city permits, which vary by location. For example, Palm Beach County's operational permit application lists a $1,000.00 Commercial Breeder permit, which requires zoning approval, for anyone who sells or breeds more than two litters or 20 dogs or cats a year. Breeders should confirm exact fees with their local animal control or licensing office, since costs differ from one county to another.

There is no statewide dog breeder inspection program in Florida at this time, although dogs offered for sale and their health certificates may be inspected by FDACS agents, USDA agents, and law enforcement (s. 828.29(3)(d), Florida Statutes). Some local governments enforce facility inspections and zoning rules as part of their permit processes. Breeders subject to federal USDA licensing would be inspected by USDA APHIS under the Animal Welfare Act.

Florida has no breeder license, but s. 828.29, Florida Statutes, requires anyone selling a dog to keep a copy of its official certificate of veterinary inspection for at least 1 year after the sale, and pet dealers (including breeders who sell more than three litters or 30 dogs or cats a year to the public) must keep records given to buyers for at least 7 years. Under the 2026 legislation (SB 1004), dog breeders may voluntarily adopt "best management practices" covering areas such as feeding, housing, health, selling and transferring, and recordkeeping, with those standards to be developed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Under s. 828.29, Florida Statutes, every dog offered for sale in Florida must be at least 8 weeks old, vaccinated and dewormed, examined by a veterinarian within 30 days before sale, and accompanied by an official certificate of veterinary inspection from a Florida-licensed, USDA-accredited veterinarian that lists the dog's age, sex, breed, color, vaccines, and test results; the buyer receives a copy at the sale. Breeders should check with local authorities and review the DBPR best management practices once finalized.

Because there is no mandatory statewide breeder license, there is no specific statewide penalty for breeding without one. Florida's general animal cruelty laws still apply, and in May 2026 Governor DeSantis signed HB 559 and SB 1004 to strengthen penalties for animal cruelty and improve consumer protections for pet owners. Under s. 828.29, Florida Statutes, selling a dog without meeting the health-certificate, vaccination, or minimum-age rules is a first-degree misdemeanor, and SB 1004 (effective July 1, 2026) made a pet dealer's violation an unfair or deceptive trade practice subject to the penalties of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Local permit violations may carry their own penalties set by the county or city, so breeders should confirm local enforcement rules.