West Virginia Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

In West Virginia, a state statute (W. Va. Code § 19-20-26) sets the commercial dog breeder rules statewide, and county commissions issue the required annual permits. Under W. Va. Code § 19-20-26, a commercial dog breeder, meaning someone who maintains 11 or more unsterilized dogs over one year old for actively breeding and is in the business of breeding dogs as household pets for sale or exchange, must obtain an annual permit from the county commission, a state business registration certificate, and any local business license the locality requires. Dogs kept only for herding or guarding livestock, hunting, tracking, or shows and field or obedience trials are excluded. County commissions set their own rules, and some counties have adopted their own commercial breeder or puppy mill ordinances based on a model originally prepared by humane organizations. Separately, anyone who ships puppies across state lines or sells dogs sight-unseen may also fall under the federal Animal Welfare Act and need a USDA license if they exceed the federal threshold (more than four breeding females sold wholesale or sight-unseen (online, by phone, or by mail)). Because rules vary by county, breeders should confirm the exact local threshold and any exemptions with their own county commission before breeding for sale.

Because West Virginia handles commercial breeder permits at the county level, breeders should apply through their local county commission, which approves permits and sets the fees. Contact your county commission or county animal control office to get the current application, confirm your permit class (Class I for 11 to 30 dogs, Class II for more than 30) and the local fee, and find out what documents and vet records you must provide. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) provides animal-health oversight and can be reached at 347 Gus R. Douglass Lane, Charleston, WV 25312, phone 304-558-2214; its website is https://agriculture.wv.gov. Breeders who ship or sell dogs out of state will typically also need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and proof of current vaccinations to meet the receiving state's requirements, and may need to apply separately to USDA APHIS for a federal license. Confirm every step with your county before you begin, since local procedures differ.

Each county commission sets the annual commercial dog breeder permit fee within limits in state law: no more than $250 a year for a Class I permit (11 to 30 unsterilized dogs over one year old) and no more than $500 a year for a Class II permit (more than 30), with the fees going to a dedicated account for animal shelters, rescue, and spay and neuter programs (W. Va. Code § 19-20-26). Because there is no single statewide fee schedule, the exact cost varies from county to county. Breeders should contact their county commission directly for the current fee that applies to their operation.

Under W. Va. Code § 19-20-26, commercial dog breeding locations are subject to biannual inspections by animal control officers or law enforcement officers, and female dogs may be bred only after an annual certification by a licensed veterinarian that they are healthy enough to breed. This applies statewide. Counties may add their own requirements, so breeders should also confirm local rules with the county commission. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture also administers animal-health, identification, and disease-control programs that can apply to animals entering or moving within the state.

W. Va. Code § 19-20-26 requires commercial breeders to keep current, valid rabies certificates for every dog and an annual veterinary certification for each female bred, to include their annual permit number in every advertisement, and, if selling directly to the public, to post their name, address, and permit number on each cage. Breeders who move dogs across state lines generally must keep health certificates (Certificates of Veterinary Inspection) and proof of current vaccinations. Breeders should check with their county commission for any additional local record-keeping requirements.

Penalties for breeding without a required permit or for violating animal-welfare rules in West Virginia are set largely through county ordinances and state animal-cruelty law. A 2026 bill to overhaul West Virginia's animal-welfare laws (HB 5207) was never taken up in the House Judiciary Committee and died when the session ended, so current cruelty penalties are unchanged. A commercial dog breeder who violates W. Va. Code § 19-20-26, including by operating without the county permit, is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined up to $1,000 per violation; a court may grant an improvement period of up to one year, and anyone convicted of animal cruelty may not operate as a commercial breeder. Breeders should review their local ordinance and the state animal code to understand the exact penalties that apply.