Maine has three separate kennel licenses, and many people are unsure which one applies to their situation. Because all three come from the state and cover different operations, it helps to understand what triggers each one before you apply. This page gives you a quick overview and links to the full post for whichever license applies to you.
The Three Licenses at a Glance
Maine’s three kennel licenses are the state kennel license, the boarding kennel license, and the breeding kennel license. Each one has a different trigger, a different fee structure, and a different purpose. Holding one does not substitute for another, though certain licenses exempt you from needing a second one.
State Kennel License (7 § 3932-B)
You need this license if you keep 5 or more dogs in a single location under one ownership for breeding, hunting, show, training, field trials, sledding, competition, or exhibition purposes. The key word is purpose. Simply owning 5 or more dogs as pets does not trigger this requirement. The license comes from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It is new as of September 2025, replacing the old municipal kennel license that used to come from your town clerk.
If you already hold a boarding kennel, breeding kennel, animal shelter, or pet shop license, you are exempt from this one.
For full details see the State Kennel License Requirements post.
Boarding Kennel License (7 § 3932)
You need this license if you keep 3 or more other people’s companion animals at any one time in exchange for a fee. This applies whether you run a dedicated facility or a home-based boarding operation. It also applies if you keep 3 or more companion animals for training purposes for compensation. The license comes from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The annual fee is $125.
For full details see the Boarding Kennel License Requirements post.
Breeding Kennel License (7 § 3931-A)
You need this license if you keep 5 or more adult female dogs or cats capable of breeding and sell, offer for sale, or exchange any of the offspring. It also applies if you sell more than 16 dogs or cats raised on your premises within a 12-month period regardless of how many breeding females you have. The license comes from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Fees are tiered by category based on the number of breeding-capable females.
If you hold a state kennel license and keep dogs primarily for hunting, show, training, sledding, competition, field trials, or exhibition, and you sell no more than 16 dogs in a 12-month period, you are exempt from the breeding kennel license.
For full details see the Breeding Kennel License Requirements post.
Quick Reference
If you board other people’s animals for a fee, you need the boarding kennel license. Keeping 5 or more of your own dogs for hunting, training, show, or similar purposes, you need the state kennel license. If you breed and sell dogs or cats from 5 or more adult females, you need the breeding kennel license. Some operations may need more than one. If you are unsure, the safest step is to contact the Maine Animal Welfare Program before operating.
Do I Need More Than One?
Possibly. A hunting dog operation that also boards dogs for others would need both a state kennel license and a boarding kennel license. A breeding operation that boards animals for a fee would need both a breeding kennel license and a boarding kennel license. Holding a boarding kennel license does exempt you from the state kennel license, but it does not exempt you from the breeding kennel license if you meet that trigger.
Contact
For questions about kennel licensing 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 Maine animal laws, see the Animal Control FAQ or the full Maine Laws section.
