Not sure which kennel license applies to you? See the Maine Kennel License Guide.
Maine law now requires a state kennel license for anyone keeping 5 or more dogs for qualifying purposes. This license is new as of September 2025 under PL 2025, c. 414, which repealed the old municipal kennel license system. The kennel license now comes from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry rather than your town clerk.
Because this change affects hunters, trainers, exhibitors, and working dog owners across Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, and the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, this page explains who needs the license, how to get it, and what the ACO inspection process involves.
You can read the full statute at legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3932-B.html.
What Triggers the License
Under section 3907, a kennel means 5 or more dogs kept in a single location under one ownership for specific purposes. Those purposes are breeding, hunting, show, training, field trials, sledding, competition, or exhibition. Purpose is what triggers the license requirement, not headcount alone. Someone keeping 5 or more dogs purely as companion animals without any of those defined purposes does not meet the kennel definition and does not need this license. The law also specifies that selling one litter of puppies within a 12-month period alone does not constitute operating a kennel.
If you already hold a breeding kennel license, boarding kennel license, animal shelter license, or pet shop license under sections 3931-A, 3932, 3932-A, or 3933, you are exempt from also needing a kennel license under 7§3932-B.
Where to Get It
As of September 2025, the kennel license comes from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It is no longer issued by your town clerk. Applications go to the department, not the municipality.
License Fees
Fees are tiered by the number of qualifying dogs. The fee is $50 for 5 to 10 dogs, $100 for 11 to 20 dogs, and $150 for 21 or more dogs. The department forwards 20% of the collected fee to the animal welfare account for the municipality where the kennel is located. The remainder goes into the state Animal Welfare Fund.
Application Deadline
Applications are due by January 31 each year. If you are required to obtain a kennel license for the first time, you have 30 days from when that requirement first applies to submit your application. The license expires December 31 annually.
ACO Inspection
The state requires an annual inspection of the kennel premises. An animal control officer appointed by the municipality must conduct this inspection before issuing or renewing a kennel license. If a municipality does not have an appointed ACO, a humane agent may conduct the inspection instead. In specific and extenuating circumstances determined by the department by rule, a humane agent may also conduct an inspection in a municipality that does have an appointed ACO. When a humane agent conducts the inspection in that circumstance, the municipality pays the cost.
Your application must include a signed inspection. This confirms the kennel passed in compliance with departmental standards. You must also include current rabies vaccination certificates for all dogs as required by 7§3916. The initial inspection must occur no more than 30 days before filing the first application. After that, inspections to renew the license must be performed annually.
In addition to the required annual inspection, an ACO may also inspect a kennel at any reasonable time, escorted by the kennel owner or their agent.
What the License Covers
A kennel license permits the licensee or an authorized agent to transport kennel dogs under control and supervision in or outside of Maine. This is particularly useful for hunters, field trial competitors, trainers, and mushers who regularly move dogs for work or sport.
Late Fee
If you fail to obtain or renew the license by January 31, a late fee of $25 applies in addition to the annual license fee. That late fee goes into the municipality’s animal welfare account.
Violation
Violating any section of the dog licensing chapter is a civil violation. The penalty is a forfeiture of up to $100.
How This Differs from the Breeding Kennel License
These two licenses are commonly confused. The key difference is purpose and trigger. The state kennel license covers people keeping dogs primarily for hunting, show, training, field trials, sledding, competition, or exhibition. The breeding kennel license covers operations where 5 or more adult females capable of breeding are kept and offspring are sold. A hunting dog operation is not a breeding kennel simply because litters occasionally happen. If you are unsure which applies to your situation, contact me or the Maine Animal Welfare Program before operating.
For more detail on the breeding kennel license, see the Breeding Kennel License Requirements post.
Questions About Your Operation
If you have questions about whether the state kennel license applies to your operation in Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, or the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, contact me through dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0, or reach the Maine Animal Welfare Program at 207-287-3846 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more on related Maine animal laws, see the Animal Control FAQ or the full Maine Laws section.
