Louisiana Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

In Louisiana, the clearest rules come from your local parish or city, where many breeders must get a breeder permit or kennel permit. The federal government also requires a USDA license under the Animal Welfare Act for anyone who keeps more than four breeding females and sells dogs sight-unseen, such as online, by phone, by mail, to brokers, or to pet stores. Under state law, any individual or business that has five or more dogs and breeds and sells dogs retail, wholesale, or to the public must get a kennel license from its parish or municipality and pay the kennel license fee in place of individual dog license fees (R.S. 3:2772(G)). State law also bars any individual or business that breeds, buys, or sells dogs from keeping more than 75 dogs over one year old for breeding at any time (R.S. 3:2772(H)). Because requirements can differ from one parish to the next, you should check with your parish or city animal control office to see which permits apply to you.

The exact steps depend on where you live and the size of your operation. For local permits, contact your parish or city Animal Services office, since application forms, fees, and rules are set at that level. For a federal USDA license, apply through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which requires an application package, information about the number of animals you expect to hold, and the license fee. The state-required kennel license is issued by your parish or municipality, not by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. With each new or renewal application you must give the parish or municipality a signed, dated statement listing your USDA Class A or Class B license number (or why you do not need one) and your sales tax identification number (or why you do not need one) (R.S. 3:2772(I)). There is no single statewide application process; each parish or municipality runs its own.

Local permit fees vary by parish and city ordinance. The federal USDA license fee is $120 for a three-year license under the Animal Welfare Act licensing rule. State law requires the parish or municipality to charge breeders an annual kennel license fee of at least $15 if no more than five dogs over six months old are kept, $25 for six to ten, and $30 for more than ten, with the money dedicated to animal impoundment facilities (R.S. 3:2772(G)). You should contact your parish or city office, and the USDA, to confirm current amounts before applying.

Louisiana state law does not set up any inspection program for dog breeders; the kennel license statute (R.S. 3:2772) has no inspection provision. Parish or city animal control may inspect under local ordinances. The federal USDA program also inspects licensed facilities for compliance with Animal Welfare Act care standards. Confirm inspection rules with your local animal control office and, if you hold a USDA license, with APHIS.

Louisiana state law does not require dog breeders to keep breeding or sales records. The only state-required paperwork is the signed statement with your USDA license number and sales tax ID (or why you lack them) filed with each kennel license application, and the parish or municipality keeps the license records (R.S. 3:2772(A), (F), (I)). Local parish or city ordinances may add their own record rules, so check locally. Federal USDA-licensed breeders must keep records required under the Animal Welfare Act.

Violating Louisiana's kennel license law, including breeding and selling without the required kennel license or keeping more than 75 breeding dogs over one year old, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both (R.S. 3:2772(J)). Louisiana's animal cruelty law (R.S. 14:102.1) can also apply to anyone who mistreats animals, with fines of up to $1,000 for simple cruelty and $5,000 to $25,000 plus prison for aggravated cruelty. Breeding without a required local permit can expose you to civil or criminal penalties under local ordinances. Parish and city ordinances may add their own fines, so check your local code as well.