New Mexico Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

New Mexico has no single statewide license just for dog breeders, so whether you need a license depends on where you live. Under New Mexico law, each municipality and county may set up its own rules, including the mandatory licensing of dogs over the age of three months. Cities and counties commonly require breeders to get a local permit, kennel license, or hobby breeder permit when they breed dogs or keep several animals. Local rules often use the number of dogs or the number of breeding females as the trigger; one local-guide source notes that keeping about five or more dogs can qualify a property as a kennel in many areas, but this is not an official statewide number. On top of local rules, you may need a federal USDA license under the Animal Welfare Act if you maintain more than four breeding females and sell dogs sight-unseen, such as online, by phone, by mail, to brokers, or to pet stores.

Because New Mexico has no state licensing agency for dog breeders, there is no single statewide application process. You should start by contacting your local city or county animal control office to ask which permits or licenses apply to you. For example, in Bernalillo County, Animal Care Services handles licensing and can be reached at (505) 314-0281 or (505) 468-7387 (see bernco.gov). In the City of Albuquerque, breeders may need an Intact Animal Permit and a Companion Animal Litter Permit before they can breed and sell dogs. If you sell dogs sight-unseen across state lines, you may also need to apply separately to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for a federal license.

Fees in New Mexico vary by city and county, and the state does not set one standard breeder fee. In the City of Albuquerque, the city requires both an Intact Companion Animal Permit ($150 per animal, renewed yearly) and a Companion Animal Litter Permit ($150, bought within one week of the litter's birth) to sell puppies, and limits each household to four litter permits, and each female to one, in any 12 months. Standard dog licenses in some areas are much cheaper, with lower fees for spayed or neutered dogs. Because amounts differ so much, you should check with your local animal control office for the exact current fees.

There is no statewide dog breeder inspection program in New Mexico, so any inspection requirements come from local ordinances or from the federal government. Local kennel licenses can include facility standards covering things like kennel size, ventilation, and waste disposal, which may involve a local inspection. If you hold a USDA license under the Animal Welfare Act, your facility is subject to federal inspection and care standards.

New Mexico does not set statewide record-keeping rules specifically for dog breeders. Record-keeping duties, if any, generally come from local ordinances or from federal USDA requirements for licensed breeders. Breeders who ship puppies to buyers in other states typically need to comply with the receiving state's animal health requirements, which usually include a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) and proof of current vaccinations. You should ask your local animal control office and, if federally licensed, follow USDA record rules.

Penalties for breaking animal rules in New Mexico are mostly set by local ordinances and by the state's general animal cruelty law found in Chapter 30, Article 18 of the New Mexico criminal code. Local violations can lead to serious consequences; for example, Sandoval County reports that violating its Animal Control Ordinance or state law could result in impoundment of animals, a misdemeanor citation, or arrest, with fines up to $300. Breeding without a required local permit can expose you to these local fines and enforcement actions. If you need a federal USDA license and operate without one, you can also face federal penalties under the Animal Welfare Act.