Tennessee Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Tennessee does not require a statewide dog breeder license at this time. The state's earlier Commercial Breeder Act, found at Tennessee Code Annotated Title 44, Chapter 17, Part 7, expired on June 30, 2014 and was not renewed, which means there is no active state-level license or threshold for dog breeders. The expired Act defined a commercial breeder as someone with 20 or more unsterilized adult female dogs or cats; that definition is no longer in force. Breeders may still fall under the federal Animal Welfare Act: according to USDA guidance, a federal license is generally required for anyone who maintains more than four breeding females and sells dogs sight-unseen (online, by phone, by mail, to brokers, or to pet stores). You should also check your city and county rules, because local zoning and kennel permits may apply even without a state license.

Because Tennessee has no active statewide dog breeder license, there is no state application process to follow. If you meet the federal threshold, you must apply for a USDA license through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which enforces the Animal Welfare Act. For general animal-welfare and commercial-operation questions in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is the state contact. You should also contact your local city or county animal control or clerk's office to ask about kennel permits, zoning approval, and any local business license you may need before you begin breeding.

There is no active statewide dog breeder license fee in Tennessee, since the state program is not currently in effect. Any costs you face are likely to be federal USDA fees (if you meet the federal threshold) or local permit and business-license fees set by your city or county. Tennessee has no state dog breeder license or renewal fee. Check with your local government for exact local permit costs.

Tennessee does not currently run state inspections of dog breeders under an active state licensing program. If you hold a federal USDA license, your facility is subject to USDA APHIS inspections under the Animal Welfare Act. Local governments may also inspect kennels as part of their own permit or zoning rules. Tennessee has no current state inspection program for dog breeders.

Tennessee does not currently impose state-level record-keeping requirements specifically for dog breeders. If you hold a federal USDA license, you must keep detailed records as required under the Animal Welfare Act, including records about the animals you buy, sell, and transport. Local ordinances may also ask for certain records tied to kennel permits. Keep any health certificates and vaccination records, especially if you ship dogs across state lines.

Because there is no active state dog breeder license, there is no state licensing penalty specific to breeding without a state license at this time. However, Tennessee's general animal-cruelty laws still apply, and the USDA can investigate and take enforcement action against breeders who violate the federal Animal Welfare Act. Since January 1, 2026, a court must order a mental health evaluation before sentencing anyone convicted of cruelty or aggravated cruelty to animals (2025 Public Chapter 511). Violating local kennel or zoning rules can also lead to local fines or loss of a local permit.