Maryland Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Maryland does not run one statewide dog breeder license. Under Maryland Code, Local Government § 13-108, which applies in every county and Baltimore City, anyone who keeps six or more unspayed female dogs over six months old for breeding, or who sells dogs from six or more litters in a year, must obtain a kennel license from their local licensing authority. This is a statewide minimum set by state law, and counties may adopt stricter kennel licensing rules, so a license can be required at a lower number in some counties. County rules differ, so confirm the rule with your own county. On top of any county kennel license, breeders may also need a federal USDA license if they have more than four breeding females and sell dogs sight-unseen.

Because licensing is local, you apply through your own county or city animal control or licensing office rather than a single state agency. For example, Baltimore County handles animal kennel permits through its Permits, Approvals and Inspections office, and Montgomery County requires a county pet license for all cats and dogs over four months old. You should first check that your property's zoning allows breeding or kennel use, then apply for the county kennel license once you reach the state threshold (6 or more unspayed breeding females or 6 or more litters sold a year) or any lower limit your county sets. If your household keeps more than four breeding females and you sell puppies sight unseen or at wholesale, you must also apply for a federal USDA license through USDA APHIS. Contact your county clerk or animal control office directly for the application form, required documents such as proof of rabies vaccination, and the current fee.

Kennel license fees in Maryland are set at the county or city level, so the amount varies by location. There is no single statewide kennel fee: state law lets each county set its own (for example, Allegany County charges $10 for a kennel of 25 or fewer dogs and $20 for more), and counties may add a fee to cover required state reporting (Maryland Code, Local Government §§ 13-108 and 13-112). You should contact your county animal control or licensing office to learn the exact cost for your area. Federal USDA licensing carries its own separate fees handled by USDA APHIS.

Inspection rules depend on the local jurisdiction and, for federal licensees, on USDA. There is no single statewide inspection schedule for county kennel licenses. Federal USDA licensees must pass a pre-license inspection and are subject to unannounced follow-up inspections, at a frequency USDA sets based on risk and compliance history, that check facility standards, veterinary care, and record-keeping. Dogs covered by the federal Animal Welfare Act are subject to standards for housing, handling, transportation, and medical care enforced by USDA APHIS.

Record-keeping rules depend on whether you hold a county kennel license or a federal USDA license. For USDA-licensed breeders, federal Animal Welfare Act rules require record-keeping along with facility standards and veterinary care programs. State law does not set a record-keeping rule for breeders, but it requires your county to record each kennel licensee's name, address, number of dogs kept, and number of puppies sold in the past year and report it to the Maryland Department of Labor by January 15 each year (Maryland Code, Local Government § 13-108), so expect to provide those numbers. Breeders should ask their county licensing office what records they must keep and for how long.

Penalties for breeding without a required license or for violating animal rules generally come from local ordinances and from state animal protection laws. Under state law, violating the dog licensing rules (including the kennel license requirement) is generally a misdemeanor with a fine of $5 to $25, up to 30 days in jail, or both (Maryland Code, Local Government § 13-109), but several counties and Baltimore City set their own penalties by local law. A 2026 bill (HB 1551) would have required breeders to register each year with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and allowed administrative fines of up to $5,000 per violation, but it never left the House Economic Matters Committee and died when the 2026 session ended. Federal USDA licensees who break Animal Welfare Act rules can face federal enforcement actions.