Georgia Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

In Georgia, people who sell dogs as a business must get a Pet Dealer License from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection Section. Under O.C.G.A. 4-11-2 and Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13-.07, a breeder who sells only animals they produced needs this license if they sell, exchange, or offer for adoption more than one litter, or more than 30 adult animals, in any 12-month period. A breeder who holds a local business license or a Georgia sales tax number counts as a pet dealer no matter how many animals they sell (O.C.G.A. 4-11-2). The Georgia Department of Agriculture also licenses animal shelters, rescue groups, humane societies, pet breeders, pet dealers, pet shops, pet groomers, boarding and training kennels, and aviaries under the Georgia Animal Protection Act. You may also need a separate federal USDA license under the Animal Welfare Act if you keep more than four breeding females and sell dogs sight-unseen.

Applications are handled by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection Section, which enforces the Georgia Animal Protection Act (O.C.G.A. Title 4, Chapter 11). You can find official forms and information on the Department's website at https://agr.georgia.gov/. Some counties ask for proof of a state pet dealer license before issuing a local business license, and holding a local business license makes a breeder a pet dealer who needs the state license, so apply at the state level first. Contact the Department for the current application steps and required documents. Local counties may also require zoning approval or a local business license in addition to the state license.

Pet dealer license fees are set by Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13-.02 based on gross yearly pet sales: $100 for $101 to $5,000 in sales, $200 for $5,001 to $10,000, $300 for $10,001 to $15,000, and $400 for more than $15,000 or for a dealer with no permanent Georgia facility. State law caps the annual fee at $400 (O.C.G.A. 4-11-3). Licenses last one year and are renewed at the same fee, but the fee doubles if a license is renewed more than 10 days after it expires (O.C.G.A. 4-11-3); no separate inspection fee is listed. Breeders should contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture to get the current, official fee amounts before applying.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection Section, enforces the Georgia Animal Protection Act and inspects licensed facilities such as pet dealers, breeders, and kennels. Inspectors generally check that animals receive adequate shelter, food, water, and veterinary care, as required under state animal welfare rules. Under O.C.G.A. 4-11-9, the Commissioner or designated agents may enter any public or private property at any time to inspect a pet dealer's premises and animals; the law sets no fixed inspection schedule. Breeders should confirm the current inspection schedule and standards with the Department.

Georgia's Animal Protection Act and its rules set standards for how licensed pet dealers and breeders must operate, including care and sale records. Georgia rules (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13-.04) require licensees to record, for each dog or cat transaction, the name, address, and phone number of the people involved, the date, the type and number of animals, and any Georgia Department of Agriculture license number, and to keep these records for 12 months and show them to the Department on request. State rules require that puppies be at least 8 weeks old before they are sold (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-13-13-.04). Breeders should contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the current record-keeping rules.

It is unlawful to act as a pet dealer or operate a kennel without the required license, according to Georgia sources. The Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection Section, enforces the Georgia Animal Protection Act, O.C.G.A. Title 4, Chapter 11, and can take enforcement action against violators. Acting as a pet dealer without a license is a misdemeanor (O.C.G.A. 4-11-3 and 4-11-16), punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both. A corporation faces up to $1,000 per violation plus 200 to 500 hours of community service, each violation is a separate offense, and the Commissioner can also ask a court for an injunction. Breeders should check the Georgia Animal Protection Act and contact the Department to understand the full penalties.