Licensing Tips

NOTICE: This article is only intended to be an overview of licensing requirements for dog breeders and is for informational purposes only. It does not cover all scenarios or situations that may face breeders. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with federal, state, and local laws. We do not provide any assistance with licensing compliance.

Do I need a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) license for my dog breeding business?

  • If you only sell puppies to customers who you meet in person, you do not need a USDA license.
  • If you transport any puppies (or have someone else transport them) to your customers, you need a USDA license.

There are two exceptions to this licensing requirement:

  • If you have four or fewer breeding females on your premises, or
  • You earn less than $500 in a calendar year from selling puppies

The USDA has a handy question-and-answer tool that will determine if you need a license. You just need to answer a few questions: https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/LRAssistant

More detail can be found in the USDA publication Licensing and Registration under the Animal Welfare Act: Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors, Transporters, and Researchers: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/aw/awlicreg_gray-book.pdf

How do I get a USDA license?

You can download the application online here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/SA_Regulated_Businesses

Just click on “Ready to Apply?” and then “APPLY” next to the line that says “License Application – with dogs and cats”

What does a USDA license cost?

The license application fee is $120 and, if approved, the license is valid for three years.

What is the difference between a Class A and a Class B license?

A “Class A” License is for breeders who only sell the puppies they breed themselves.

A “Class B” License is for breeders who purchase and resell puppies.

Do I need a license from my state or local government to breed puppies?

Every state has its own laws on regulating breeders. It’s your responsibility to be familiar with those laws. For a review of state and local dog-breeding laws, you can go here: https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-commercial-pet-breeders-laws

Additional detail on USDA licensing:

Regulated Businesses:

  1. Pet Retailers – Anyone selling pets sight unseen to buyers at retail must be licensed. However, if your buyers view the animals in person prior to purchase or taking custody of them, you may qualify for an exemption.

  2. Pet Breeders – Anyone breeding pets for the wholesale trade (e.g., to a pet store or a broker) must be licensed. You must be licensed if you wholesale dogs as breeding stock to other breeders. Some small-scale breeders can qualify for an exemption (see “Hobby Dealers”).

A “Class A” License is for breeders who only sell the puppies they breed themselves.

A “Class B” License is for breeders who purchase and resell puppies.

Exemptions:

  1. Direct Sales: Anyone who only sells domestic pets directly to pet owners in person, at a place where the seller, buyer, and animal are all physically present, is exempt, regardless of sales volume.

  2. Hobby Dealers:

A. Small-scale breeders and other dealers with gross sales under $500 per year are exempt, as long as these sales do not include wild or exotic animals, dogs, or cats.

B. If you own no more than four breeding female pet animals, "pocket pets," and/or domesticated farm-type animals, and sell only their offspring, which were born and raised on your premises for pets or exhibition, you are exempt. ("Pocket pets" are small, non dangerous exotic or wild mammals, such as sugar gliders, hedgehogs, degus, spiny mice, prairie dogs, flying squirrels, and jerboas.)

C. Also, you are exempt if you sell fewer than 25 dogs and/or cats each year, which were born and raised on your premises, for research, teaching, or testing purposes or to any research facility.

D. These exemptions do not extend to anyone acting in concert with others where they maintain a total of more than four breeding females (in case of pet or exhibition sales) or more than 25 dogs and/or cats (in the case of research).

More resources:

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