Idaho Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Idaho does not require a statewide dog breeder license or commercial kennel permit. Instead, breeders fall under several layers of local regulation that change from city to city and county to county. Under Idaho Code Section 25-2801, a board of county commissioners may require an annual dog license in designated areas outside cities that have their own dog license law, and an owner who keeps dogs for breeding or commercial purposes is entitled to a county kennel license covering 15 dogs at a fee set by the county, so requirements depend on where you live. Some breeders may also need a federal USDA license. Under federal rules (9 CFR 2.1), breeders who keep five or more breeding females and sell puppies sight-unseen, such as through online sales or shipping, need a USDA Class A (breeder) license under the federal Animal Welfare Act, but this is a federal requirement, not an Idaho one.

Because Idaho has no statewide breeder license, there is no single state application to fill out. You should contact your city or county animal control office to find out if a local kennel permit or business license is required where you live. Idaho does not have a state business license, but you may still need to register your business name with the Idaho Secretary of State and set up tax accounts with the Idaho State Tax Commission, as explained at Business.Idaho.gov. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture oversees animal industry matters but does not license dog breeders. If you plan to sell puppies in a way that triggers federal rules, you would apply to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Idaho charges no statewide dog breeder license fee because no such license exists. Any fees you pay would come from local city or county permits, and those amounts vary by location. If you need a federal USDA license instead, APHIS sources state that the federal license fee is $120 for a license valid for three years. Idaho law sets no breeder license fee; where a county has adopted a dog license under Idaho Code 25-2801, the county commissioners set the fee for a kennel license covering 15 dogs kept for breeding or commercial purposes.

Idaho does not run a statewide inspection program for dog breeders, since there is no state breeder license. Any inspections would likely come from local authorities as part of a local kennel permit, and these rules vary by city and county. If a breeder holds a federal USDA license, APHIS conducts inspections under the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Idaho sets no record-keeping rules for dog breeders, because there is no statewide breeder license. Breeders who hold a federal USDA license must follow federal Animal Welfare Act record-keeping requirements. Local permits may also have their own record requirements that vary by city or county. Breeders should check with their local animal control office and, if applicable, USDA APHIS for exact details.

Because Idaho has no statewide breeder license, penalties mostly come from local ordinances or federal law. In areas where county rules under Idaho Code Section 25-2801 apply, Idaho Code 25-2803 makes it an infraction (a fine of no more than $300, no jail) for a dog to run at large without a collar bearing a county or city license tag. Breeders who should hold a federal USDA license but do not may face federal civil penalties (currently up to $14,575 per violation) or criminal penalties under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2149).