Montana Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

No State License

Last updated: 2026-10-03 Checked against official sources October 3, 2026

Report an Error

Quick Summary

Montana does not have a statewide dog breeder licensing law, so there is no state-level license or threshold that triggers regulation of a breeding operation. Instead, dog breeding is handled by local city and county ordinances (which often require a kennel license once you keep more than a set number of dogs), by Montana's general dog and animal-import laws, and by the federal USDA under the Animal Welfare Act for larger commercial breeders who sell sight-unseen. Breeders should always check their own city and county rules, because thresholds and fees vary from place to place.

License Required No statewide requirement (local kennel rules and USDA may apply)
Annual Fee N/A statewide; local fees vary (e.g., $100 kennel fee in Cut Bank; $100-$150 county kennel license in Missoula County)
Threshold No state threshold; local governments set kennel thresholds; USDA rules apply to breeders with more than four breeding females selling sight-unseen

Compare Montana's fees and thresholds to all 50 states →

Regulatory Agency: No single statewide breeder-licensing agency. Local city and county governments handle kennel licenses; the Montana Department of Livestock oversees animal health and import rules; the USDA (APHIS) oversees federal commercial breeder licensing.

Who Needs a License in Montana?

Montana has no statewide dog breeder license, so there is no state threshold (such as a set number of breeding females) that forces a breeder to get a state license. Whether you need any license depends on where you live. Many Montana cities and counties require a kennel license once you keep more than a certain number of dogs; for example, the City of Missoula requires a permit ($75 initial, then $50 a year) if you have more than three dogs in a household within city limits, and Livingston treats a place with more than two female dogs kept for breeding, or more than one litter kept for sale, as a kennel. On top of local rules, a federal USDA license may be required under the Animal Welfare Act for breeders who maintain more than four breeding females and sell the offspring sight-unseen (online, by phone, by mail, to brokers, or to pet stores). Because the rules are local, breeders should confirm the exact number of dogs allowed and the permit process with their own city or county.

How to Apply

Because there is no statewide breeder license, there is no single state application. To apply for a local kennel license, contact your city or county government. In some towns the application goes to the City Clerk (as in Boulder), and in others it is reviewed by an animal control officer or requires a hearing before a planning board or city council (as in Belgrade). Local applications may require zoning compliance, written consent from nearby neighbors, and a facility inspection. If you sell dogs sight-unseen and maintain more than four breeding females, you may also need to apply to the USDA (APHIS) for a federal Animal Welfare Act license; the USDA charges a $120 license fee and asks applicants to report the number of animals they expect to hold or use.

Fees and Costs

There is no statewide breeder license fee in Montana. Local kennel fees vary by jurisdiction: Cut Bank charges an annual kennel fee of $100, and Missoula County reports a county kennel license ranging from $100 to $150. Flathead County charges a $45 lifetime dog license fee, which is a pet license rather than a breeder license. At the federal level, the USDA charges a $120 fee for a three-year Animal Welfare Act license.

Inspections and Compliance

Montana does not run a statewide breeder inspection program because there is no statewide breeder license. Local governments may inspect before issuing a kennel license; for example, Cut Bank's process includes an inspection by the animal control officer who then recommends approval or disapproval to the licensing authority. Breeders who hold a federal USDA license are subject to USDA inspections under the Animal Welfare Act. There is no statewide inspection schedule; inspections are handled locally or federally.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Montana law (MCA 7-23-4201) requires pet shops, humane societies, and public shelters or pounds that sell or adopt out dogs to give the buyer the dog's age, sex, weight, breed, and vaccination and sterilization records, and to keep the breeder's name, prior owners, and any import permit and health certificate for 2 years. This rule does not cover private breeders. Dogs brought into Montana for sale or a change of ownership must have a health certificate issued within 30 days of entry and, if 3 months or older, proof of current rabies vaccination, so breeders who bring in dogs should keep these documents. Breeders holding a federal USDA license must also follow the record-keeping rules in the Animal Welfare Act and its regulations. Montana sets no statewide record-keeping standard for dog breeders.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Because there is no statewide breeder license, there is no statewide penalty for breeding without a state breeder license. Breeders who violate a local kennel ordinance can face penalties set by their city or county, which may include denial, revocation, or non-renewal of a kennel license. Breeders who should hold a federal USDA license but do not may face federal civil or criminal penalties under the Animal Welfare Act.

Sources and References

Related Resources