South Carolina Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

As of mid-2026, no one in South Carolina needs a state dog breeder license, because the state has no statewide commercial breeding law. According to the South Carolina Legislature and news reporting, the pending Senate Bill 720 (the South Carolina Humane Dog Breeding Act) would change this. Under the bill as introduced, a 'professional dog breeder' would be defined as someone who owns more than 10 adult female breeding dogs or who sells more than 15 puppies in a calendar year. Those breeders would have to get a license from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and follow inspection and care rules. Until such a bill passes, breeders should check with their city or county animal control office, since many local governments require a business license or kennel permit and may set their own dog-count limits.

There is no state application process right now because South Carolina does not license dog breeders at the state level. If Senate Bill 720 becomes law, applications would go to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, and a license would be valid for two years according to bill-tracking sources. That bill would also require an initial on-site inspection before a license is granted. Until a state law is in place, breeders should contact their local city or county animal control office to learn about any business license, kennel permit, or zoning approval they may need. Breeders who ship dogs sight-unseen or meet federal thresholds may also need a federal license under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Act (see aphis.usda.gov/awa/apply).

South Carolina does not charge a state dog breeder license fee at this time, because no state license exists. The available search results do not state a specific fee amount in the pending Senate Bill 720. Bill-tracking sources say a license under S. 720 would be valid for two years, but they do not list a dollar amount. Local governments may charge their own business license or kennel permit fees, so breeders should confirm costs with their city or county.

No state inspections of dog breeders are required in South Carolina today. Under the pending Senate Bill 720, breeders would have to pass an initial on-site inspection, and the bill would authorize inspections or reinspections of the premises, dogs, and records. According to reporting, this inspection could be carried out by local law enforcement or an appointed designee to check that housing and care standards are met. These standards would cover housing conditions, sanitation, space, food and water, and daily animal care, but none of this takes effect unless the bill becomes law.

South Carolina has no statewide record-keeping rule for dog breeders at this time. The pending Senate Bill 720 would allow the state to inspect a breeder's records, which suggests record-keeping would be required if the bill passes, but the search results do not spell out exactly which records must be kept or for how long. The bill as described would also limit breeding, such as not breeding a female dog more than two litters in any 18-month period and not before she is 12 months old. Breeders should watch for regulations the Department of Agriculture would adopt if the law passes. For now, breeders should keep any records their local government or a federal USDA license requires.

Because there is no state breeder license today, there is no state penalty for breeding without one. General animal cruelty laws still apply statewide, and lawmakers were considering bills in 2026 (such as 'Riley's Act,' Bill 5090, and related measures) to increase penalties for the ill-treatment of animals. Under those proposals, a third or subsequent cruelty offense could carry a fine of not less than ten thousand nor more than fifty thousand dollars or imprisonment. The pending Senate Bill 720 would also create a way for authorities to seize dogs kept in violation of the act. Local ordinances may impose their own fines for operating a kennel without a required permit.