USDA Federal Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Last updated: 2026-10-03

Quick Summary

The USDA requires a federal license under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 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). This program is run by APHIS, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Small breeders with four or fewer breeding females, and those who sell only face-to-face directly to buyers, are generally exempt.

License Required Yes (if >4 breeding females + sight-unseen sales)
License Fee $120 for a 3-year license (APHIS licensing rule)
Threshold >4 breeding females + sight-unseen sales (online, to brokers, or to pet stores)

Regulatory Agency: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) (opens in new tab)

Do I Need a USDA License?

The answer depends on how you sell your dogs. Here is the simple test:

  1. Do you breed and sell dogs?

    If you do not breed dogs and do not buy dogs to resell, you do not need a USDA breeder or dealer license. The federal requirement only applies to people who breed or deal in dogs commercially.

  2. Do you sell any dogs sight-unseen?

    “Sight-unseen” means the buyer does not physically see the dog in person before buying it or taking it home. Under the USDA rule, the seller, the buyer, and the animal must all be physically present in the same location so the buyer can personally observe the dog before buying it or taking custody of it (9 CFR 1.1).

    Video calls do not count. Seeing a dog over FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype is not the same as seeing it in person. If you show a buyer the dog on video and then ship it, that is a sight-unseen sale.

    Paying ahead is OK. A buyer can pay a deposit, or even pay in full online, as long as the buyer physically sees the dog in person, with you and the dog present, before taking it home. For example, a buyer who pays a deposit online and then drives to your home to see the dog and complete the purchase is a face-to-face sale, not sight-unseen.

    • No: Every buyer physically sees the dog in person before buying it or taking it home, and you sell only at retail to people buying pets, not to brokers, pet stores, or other resellers. No USDA license needed (you qualify as a retail pet store). But check your state requirements. You may still need a state license.
    • Yes, but I have 4 or fewer breeding females: You sell only offspring born and raised on your premises for pets or exhibition. No USDA license needed. The small breeder exemption (9 CFR 2.1(a)(3)(iii) (opens in new tab)) applies regardless of whether sales are face-to-face or sight-unseen.
    • Yes, and I have more than 4 breeding females: You need a USDA Class A Breeder license.

USDA License Types

The USDA issues two main types of licenses for people who deal in dogs:

Class A (Breeder)

For people who breed and raise dogs on their own property and sell them. This is the license most dog breeders need.

  • You breed the dogs yourself
  • You sell dogs you produced
  • Required if you sell sight-unseen (with >4 breeding females)

Class B (Dealer)

For people who buy dogs from others and resell them. This applies to middlemen and some brokers.

  • You buy dogs from other breeders
  • You resell dogs you did not breed
  • Also covers brokers and auction operators

Note: Class A and Class B licenses are not specific to dogs. The same federal licenses cover many regulated species (such as cats, rabbits, and other animals) under the Animal Welfare Act. A USDA licensee is not necessarily a dog breeder, so always confirm the species and details directly with the licensee and USDA APHIS.

Who Is Exempt from a USDA License?

You do not need a USDA license if any of the following apply to you:

Small breeder: 4 or fewer breeding females

You keep 4 or fewer breeding females and sell only their offspring, born and raised on your premises, for pets or exhibition (9 CFR 2.1(a)(3)(iii) (opens in new tab)). This exemption applies regardless of whether sales are face-to-face or sight-unseen. Anti-circumvention rules prevent multiple people in one household from each claiming four females separately.

Retail pet store: face-to-face sales only

You sell animals at retail as pets, directly to buyers who physically see the animal in person before buying it or taking it home (9 CFR 1.1 (opens in new tab)). The seller, buyer, and animal must all be present. This exemption applies regardless of how many breeding females you have, but does not cover sales where the buyer never sees the animal in person before taking it (such as shipped online, phone, or mail-order sales), or wholesale sales to brokers, pet stores, or other resellers.

Important: Even if you are exempt from the USDA license, you may still need a state or local license. Always check your state's requirements.

How to Apply for a USDA License

1
Contact USDA APHIS

Call 1-970-494-7478 or visit the APHIS License Application page (opens in new tab) to apply online.

2
Complete APHIS Form 7003

Fill out the Application for License form with your information and details about your breeding operation.

3
Submit application and fee

Send the completed form along with the required license fee to APHIS.

4
Pass the pre-license inspection

An APHIS inspector will visit your facility to verify it meets all Animal Welfare Act standards (opens in new tab). You must pass before your license is granted.

5
Receive your license

Once approved, you will receive your USDA license. Since 2023, all licenses are valid for 3 years and must be renewed before expiration.

Fees and Costs

Since 2023, USDA animal welfare licenses use a simplified flat fee structure:

  • All licenses are now 3-year licenses with a flat processing fee of $120.
  • Registration (for research facilities, carriers, etc.) is free.
  • There is no separate inspection fee; inspections are included.
  • Applications and fees can be submitted online. See the APHIS Licensing Rule page (opens in new tab) for details.

Inspections and Compliance

USDA-licensed facilities are subject to unannounced inspections by APHIS. Here is what to expect:

  • A pre-license inspection is required before your initial license is granted.
  • After licensing, APHIS can inspect without notice during business hours (9 CFR 2.126).
  • Inspectors check housing, food, water, veterinary care, sanitation, and space requirements.
  • They also review your record-keeping.
  • All inspection reports are public record (opens in new tab).
  • Violations may result in warnings, deadlines to fix issues, or enforcement action.

Record-Keeping Requirements

USDA-licensed breeders must keep detailed records for every dog they acquire, hold, sell, or transport, including puppies born on site. Records must include:

  • Name and address of the buyer or seller
  • Date of each transaction
  • Description of each animal (breed, sex, color, markings, age)
  • USDA license number of any licensed parties involved
  • Records of veterinary care for each animal

Records must be kept for at least 1 year after you no longer have the animal and must be available for inspectors during business hours.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Violating the Animal Welfare Act can result in serious consequences:

Civil Fines

Up to $14,575 per violation, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate violation

License Action

Suspension or permanent revocation

Criminal Charges

Up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500 for knowing violations

Cease & Desist

Ordered to stop activities immediately

All enforcement actions and inspection reports are public record.

Sources and References

Related Resources

  • License Lookup: Search and verify any USDA-licensed dog breeder or dealer by name, certificate number, or state.
  • State Licensing Requirements: Check your state's breeder licensing requirements in addition to federal rules.
  • Glossary: Definitions of terms like "sight-unseen sale," "Class A license," and "Animal Welfare Act."
  • Report an Error: Found outdated info? Let us know.