Pennsylvania Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

In Pennsylvania, you must get a Dog Law kennel license if you keep, harbor, board, or transfer a total of 26 or more dogs in one calendar year. This threshold applies even if the dogs do not stay permanently at your facility, so breeders, boarding operations, and other kennels can all be covered. Kennels are sorted into different license classes, and a commercial kennel is generally one that breeds or whelps dogs and either transfers dogs to a dealer or pet shop or sells or transfers more than 60 dogs per calendar year (3 P.S. 459-102). People who keep fewer than 26 dogs in a year generally fall below the state kennel-license threshold, though local zoning or permit rules may still apply. Note that within the City of Philadelphia, a 2026 city ordinance created a 36-month moratorium on dog breeding and on selling or transferring puppies under seven months old; that local ban is separate from the statewide licensing scheme and exempts people who hold a valid Pennsylvania Dog Law kennel license, as well as shelters and rescues.

Kennel licenses are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through its Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which also inspects kennels. The Bureau operates under the Department of Agriculture and handles licensing and inspection of commercial kennels, boarding facilities, and dog breeders. Pennsylvania's Dog Law is primarily codified at 3 P.S. Sections 459-101 through 459-1205, which set the rules for licensing and operation. Applicants should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to confirm the current application form, required documents, and the correct kennel class for their operation. Check with the Department for the full list of documents needed before applying.

Pennsylvania kennel license fees are tiered by kennel class, with larger kennels generally paying more. Under section 206 of the Dog Law (3 P.S. 459-206, as amended in 2023), annual kennel license fees are $100 for up to 50 dogs a year (Kennel Class I or C-I), $250 for 51 to 100, $375 for 101 to 150, $500 for 151 to 250, $625 for 251 to 500, and $950 for more than 500. Boarding kennels pay $125 to $325 based on capacity. Kennel licenses expire December 31, and renewals are due by January 1. Note that the separate annual dog license that every dog owner must buy is different from a kennel license; the Department of Agriculture lists the 2026 individual annual dog license at $10.80 and a lifetime license at $52.80, but this is not a breeder kennel fee. Always rely on the Department of Agriculture's official fee schedule for kennel licensing.

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement licenses and inspects commercial kennels, boarding facilities, and dog breeders to make sure they meet standards of care. Kennel operators are subject to inspections tied to their license, and the Canine Health Board, established by Act 119 of 2008, was created to develop health and care guidelines for commercial dog kennels in Pennsylvania. Inspectors generally review housing, care, and record-keeping. If a kennel fails to meet standards, the Department can take enforcement action against the license. State dog wardens must inspect every licensed kennel at least twice per calendar year, and a kennel license cannot be approved until the kennel has been inspected (3 P.S. 459-207, 459-218).

Kennel operators in Pennsylvania must keep records of every dog that enters and leaves the kennel. Breeders and sellers must also comply with the Dog Purchaser Protection Act, known as the 'Puppy Lemon Law,' which requires posting a visible notice of consumer rights and giving buyers a written copy of those rights at the time of sale. Kennels that sell or adopt dogs at retail to the public are responsible for disclosing breeder information, vaccination and medical documentation, and any known bite history. Kennel keepers must keep these records for two years, showing each dog's breed, color, markings, sex and age, the dates it entered and left, who it came from and went to (full name and address), why it was kept, and the kennel's veterinarian, and must make them available for inspection (3 P.S. 459-207).

Operating a kennel without the required license or violating the Dog Law can lead to enforcement action by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, including action against a kennel's license. Pennsylvania's anti-cruelty provisions are found in Title 18 and distinguish between misdemeanor and felony cruelty depending on the conduct and animal involved, so serious violations can bring criminal charges. When state animal-cruelty conduct overlaps with federal violations, Pennsylvania authorities can pursue criminal charges alongside any federal administrative action. Operating a kennel without a license is unlawful (3 P.S. 459-207). A first offense under the Dog Law is a summary offense with a fine of $500 to $1,000 per offense or up to 90 days in jail, and a repeat offense within a year is a third-degree misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 or up to one year in jail. The department may instead assess civil penalties of $100 to $1,000 per day per offense after a notice of violation, and each day can count as a separate violation (3 P.S. 459-903).