--- title: "Georgia Kennel License: Who Needs One and Inspections | DogServ" description: "Who needs a Georgia kennel license, the $50 to $400 fee, what the pre-inspection checks, the records to keep and the local zoning limits that come first." url: "https://dogserv.com/georgia-kennel-license/" lang: "en" published: "2026-10-09" image: "https://dogserv.com/og/blog-georgia-kennel-license.jpg" alternates: es: "https://dogserv.com/es/licencia-de-kennel-en-georgia.md" --- # Georgia Kennel License: Who Needs One, Inspections and Records By [Cal Hewitt](https://dogserv.com/authors/calvin-hewitt/) · Published October 9, 2026 ![Labrador retriever lying on a raised cot in a bright, open boarding kennel playroom with big windows onto a green yard](https://dogserv.com/blog/georgia-kennel-license/featured.jpg) If you board, hold, train, groom, breed or otherwise keep other people's dogs or cats at your own Georgia location for a fee, the [Georgia Department of Agriculture](https://www.agr.georgia.gov/kennel-licenses) (GDA) generally treats that place as a kennel, and you need a state license first. [O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-4/chapter-11/article-1/section-4-11-3/) sets the annual fee between $50 and $400, and GDA sets the actual amount by your capacity. The state license does not replace local zoning, dog-count, home-business or business-license rules, so you need both. ### Key takeaways - A paid place that keeps dogs or cats, including boarding, training, grooming shops and breeding, generally needs a GDA kennel license. - The license lasts one year and costs $50 to $400 under O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3; GDA sets the exact fee by capacity. - GDA runs a pre-inspection, and the application is not approved until your facility passes it. - Rule 40-13-13 requires you to keep animal and transaction records for 12 months, on the premises. - Georgia has no single statewide cap on dogs at a home; your city or county sets it, and it also decides whether your address can hold a kennel. I know what brought you here. You are either about to sign a lease, build runs or take your first boarder, and you want to be sure you are not about to break a rule you did not know about. Let's walk through what the state asks, in the order you will run into it. ## Who needs the Georgia kennel license? GDA says a license is needed when you own "an establishment, other than an animal shelter, where dogs or cats are maintained for boarding, holding, training, or similar purposes for a fee or compensation." GDA adds that similar purposes include the activities of a breeding establishment, a cattery or a grooming shop. So, a boarding kennel, a daycare that keeps dogs on site, a training facility that holds dogs, [a grooming shop](https://dogserv.com/starting-a-dog-grooming-business-in-georgia/) and a breeder all fall within the definition. [O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3](https://www.agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/assets/legal/ocga/ocga-georgia-animal-protection-act.pdf) makes it unlawful to operate a kennel without a valid license from the Commissioner of Agriculture. What if you work in the client's home? The GDA definition describes keeping animals at an establishment. It does not describe [walking dogs from a client's home](https://dogserv.com/starting-a-dog-walking-business-in-georgia/), sitting in a client's home or training at a client's house. Those jobs do not involve maintaining dogs at your own location. Still, the facts of your model matter. If you mix services, such as sitting a few dogs at your house and walking others, or you run something unusual, call the GDA Companion Animal Program and describe exactly what you do before you start. ## How do you apply, and what does it cost? The GDA application asks for: - Your physical address and mailing address. - A working phone number and email address. - Your physical capacity, if the facility is in Georgia. - The names and addresses of corporation officers, partners or organization members. - Any prior license violations or animal-cruelty charges. - Secure-and-verifiable citizenship or legal-residency documents. GDA reviews the application and sends an inspector for a pre-inspection. It then asks for the secure-and-verifiable paperwork, and after approval it gives you payment instructions. The license runs one year from the time your payment is processed. On cost, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3 sets an annual range of at least $50 and no more than $400. GDA says the actual fee depends on your capacity, so call GDA with your planned number of animals and get the exact amount before you budget. Plan for renewal, too. GDA says renewing after the license expires adds a late fee equal to 100 percent of the license fee, and the statute provides a 100 percent increase when renewal is not completed within ten days after expiration. Put the renewal date on your calendar the day the license arrives. ![Basset hound sitting on a polished wooden floor in a small county office lobby with a plain wooden counter and potted fern](https://dogserv.com/blog/georgia-kennel-license/application.jpg) ## What does the pre-inspection check under Rule 40-13-13? The inspector comes before you are approved, and your application does not move forward until the facility passes. After that, [Rule 40-13-13](https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/40-13-13) allows inspections that may be unannounced and as often as the Commissioner or agents think necessary. So, treat the pre-inspection as the standard you hold every day, not a one-time test. The rule covers a long list. These are the points that matter most when you build or repair a space: - **Climate and comfort.** Adequate heat, ventilation, lighting and protection from weather, plus shade where sunlight could cause overheating or suffering. - **Surfaces and upkeep.** Interior surfaces that are cleanable and resist moisture, and premises kept clean and in good repair. - **Drainage and pests.** Rapid drainage, odor control, trapped closed drains with covers, and control of insects, ectoparasites, birds and mammalian pests. - **Separation.** Animals with infectious disease kept apart, dogs with a vicious disposition housed individually, rescue animals separated from boarding animals, compatible animals only in group housing, and sexually receptive females kept from males except for breeding. - **Space.** Enough room for each animal to stand, sit, turn and lie down normally, with at least six inches of clearance above the head of the tallest animal when it stands. - **Structure and floors.** Secure construction, and no grated or mesh permanent floors for dogs and cats. - **Crates and tethers.** Portable crates only for temporary use, generally 24 hours or less, and no permanent tethering as the primary enclosure. - **Supplies and waste.** Proper storage of food, bedding and supplies, refrigeration for perishable items, and waste and refuse management. If you are still building, read these standards before the contractor pours a floor. A grated floor or a run too low for your tallest dog is far cheaper to fix on paper. The same rule lets an inspector see humane care whenever an animal is present, so the standard applies from the first dog you take in. You can read the amended text on the [GDA rule amendment PDF](https://agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/assets/legal/2020/Animal-Protection-Rule-Amendment-%28Jan-2020%29%28MARKED%29.pdf). ## What records must a licensed kennel keep? Rule 40-13-13 requires complete and accurate records of acquisitions, purchases, sales, releases, natural additions, exchanges, adoptions, custodial care and health. For dogs, cats, birds and equine, a record includes at least the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the people involved, the date of the transaction or activity, the type and number of animals, and the required identifying information. Keep the records for 12 months, keep them on the premises and have them ready for the Commissioner or an authorized representative whenever they ask. GDA publishes kennel record-keeping material that you can use to organize your files; ask the Companion Animal Program for the current form. A simple binder or a folder on a laptop that stays at the facility works, as long as every entry is complete and you can hand it over on request. ![Cavalier King Charles spaniel lying on a rug beside a plain wooden desk with a closed binder and a lamp](https://dogserv.com/blog/georgia-kennel-license/records.jpg) ## How many dogs can I legally own in Georgia? Georgia sets no single statewide cap on how many dogs a household can have. Your city or unincorporated county zoning office and its animal-control office set the limit, and a state kennel license does not override that limit. DeKalb County is a clear example. In its residential districts, a person may keep no more than three household pets on a lot of two acres or less. On larger lots, the ordinance allows one more household pet for each additional acre above two, up to ten. Litters under six months old do not count toward that number. You can read it in the [DeKalb County code](https://dekalbcounty-ga.elaws.us/code/coor_ch27_art4_27-4.2division2_sec4.2.11). Gwinnett County works through local business approvals. Its [code enforcement page](https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/government/departments/planning-development/services/code-enforcement) says a business in unincorporated Gwinnett needs an Occupation Tax Certificate and a certificate of occupancy, and a home occupation must follow the Unified Development Ordinance. A pet-boarding kennel there can also be approved under [special-use conditions](https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/documents/d/gwinnett-county/sup2022-00016-pdf) covering indoor sleeping quarters, outdoor-run limits, setbacks, screening, monitoring and waste. Atlanta, Cobb, Chatham and other places review each address on its own, so call the planning or zoning office first and animal control second, with your exact parcel in hand. Ask them: 1. Is this address zoned for boarding, daycare, grooming, breeding, rescue or training? 2. Is the use allowed outright, by conditional approval or by special-use permit? 3. Is a home occupation allowed here, and is there a dog-count limit? 4. Are outdoor runs allowed, and what setbacks, fence, acreage, noise, drainage, parking and waste rules apply? 5. Do I need a building permit, a certificate of occupancy, and a city or county business license or occupation tax certificate? 6. Does animal control require its own permit or registration? 7. Does an HOA or deed restriction limit the use? Ask all of this before you sign a lease or build anything. The local answer can end a plan that the state license would otherwise have allowed. ## What is the "no touch law" in Georgia? You may hear a "no touch law" mentioned around dogs and kennels. It is not a cited Georgia kennel statute, and a phrase alone does not tell you which rule someone means. If a neighbor, a landlord or an online post uses it, ask for the statute or ordinance number, the city or county it comes from and the office that enforces it. Animal control, [dangerous-dog](https://dogserv.com/georgia-dog-bite-law-for-dog-businesses/), nuisance, property-access and fence rules are separate questions. Your city or county code-enforcement, planning or animal-control office can tell you which ordinance applies to your address. For state kennel licensing, the rules to follow are O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3 and Rule 40-13-13. ![Siberian husky sitting on a quiet suburban sidewalk lined with dogwood trees with a leash trailing slack](https://dogserv.com/blog/georgia-kennel-license/local-rules.jpg) ## What is the "7 year fence law" in Georgia? The "7 year fence law" does not name a general Georgia rule for dog businesses or dog ownership. Fence questions usually involve property boundaries, local fence ordinances, zoning, nuisance rules or private covenants. For a fence you want to build for runs, ask the city or county planning, zoning, building or code office. For a dispute over where a boundary sits, a surveyor or a qualified attorney is the right call. ## How much land does a kennel need, and how many dogs fit in a 10x10 run? Rule 40-13-13 does not give a single acreage formula for every kennel. It requires every enclosure to give each animal room to turn, stand, sit, lie down and move normally without touching the enclosure or another animal, with at least six inches of clearance above the tallest animal's head. A 10 by 10 run is 100 square feet, but the rule does not say a set number of dogs fits in every 10 by 10 run. Dog size, compatibility, enclosure design, shelter, sanitation and drainage decide it, and so does local zoning. If anyone tells you a fixed dogs-per-run number, check it against the rule and your county. Land is mostly a local question. DeKalb County requires at least two acres for a commercial boarding or breeding kennel, a 100-foot setback from property lines and a 200-foot setback from residential zoning. It also requires an opaque fence or wall at least eight feet high, impervious floors and soundproofing. Other counties differ, so use DeKalb as an example of how strict local rules can be and get your own county's numbers before you buy or lease land. ![German shepherd standing in a spacious fenced grass yard with an open sided shade shelter and tall pines beyond a solid wooden fence](https://dogserv.com/blog/georgia-kennel-license/land-and-runs.jpg) ## When does a found dog legally become someone else's? This question matters for [rescuers](https://dogserv.com/directory/rescues/) and kennel owners who take in strays. The answer is local, not statewide. Chatham County is one clear example. Its [Animal Services found-pet process](https://animalservices.chathamcountyga.gov/Services/FoundPets/) has a found dog or cat scanned for a microchip and held for five days, counted from the day the found-pet report is submitted. After the hold, the animal may be rehomed under that county's process. You can file a report on the [Chatham found-pet report page](https://chatham90.org/lost-found-report). That is Chatham County's rule, not a Georgia rule for every county. If you find a dog anywhere else, call that city or county animal-control office, report the dog, and ask how long the stray hold lasts before anyone can rehome it. Do not assume the dog is yours to keep or place. ## Questions about Georgia kennel licenses Short answers on the license, zoning and records. ### How do I register a business in Georgia? Start with the Georgia Secretary of State, whose [guide to registering a domestic entity](https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-register-domestic-entity) covers LLCs, corporations and partnerships. It lists a $110 online fee to form an LLC and a $60 annual registration fee. Then [register with the Georgia Department of Revenue](https://dogserv.com/georgia-sales-tax-on-pet-services/) through the [Georgia Tax Center](https://dor.georgia.gov/tax-registration), and ask a tax professional how your business structure affects federal taxes. For the full set of steps, see [Georgia dog business license requirements](https://dogserv.com/georgia-dog-business-license-requirements/). ### Does a state kennel license override zoning? No. GDA says applicants must follow local ordinances, including animal-count limits. A state license shows the state accepts your facility; it does not make a use lawful where your city or county does not allow it. ### What is the late fee for a kennel license? GDA says renewing after expiration carries a late fee equal to 100 percent of the license fee. Renew before the expiration date to avoid paying double. ### How long must kennel records be kept? Keep them at least 12 months, on the premises, and ready for the Commissioner or an authorized representative on request. ## What should you do next? I would work in this order, and I would not skip the first step. First, call the zoning office and animal control for the exact address and get the answers to the questions above. Second, work out your facility capacity and gather your addresses, ownership details and prior-violation information. Third, prepare the premises against Rule 40-13-13 and set up your 12-month record files. Fourth, apply through GDA, pass the pre-inspection, send the secure-and-verifiable documents and pay the capacity-based fee. Last, calendar your annual renewal. If you are opening a boarding business, [opening a dog boarding kennel in Georgia](https://dogserv.com/opening-a-dog-boarding-kennel-in-georgia/) and [breeding dogs in Georgia](https://dogserv.com/breeding-dogs-in-georgia/) cover the business side in more detail. When you are licensed and ready for customers, you can [list your business in the DogServ directory](https://dogserv.com/directory/). Check each office's current fees and forms, because they can change. ## Sources - **agr.georgia.gov**: [GDA rule amendment PDF](https://agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/assets/legal/2020/Animal-Protection-Rule-Amendment-%28Jan-2020%29%28MARKED%29.pdf) - **agr.georgia.gov**: [Georgia Department of Agriculture](https://www.agr.georgia.gov/kennel-licenses) - **agr.georgia.gov**: [O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3](https://www.agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/assets/legal/ocga/ocga-georgia-animal-protection-act.pdf) - **animalservices.chathamcountyga.gov**: [Animal Services found-pet process](https://animalservices.chathamcountyga.gov/Services/FoundPets/) - **chatham90.org**: [Chatham found-pet report page](https://chatham90.org/lost-found-report) - **dekalbcounty-ga.elaws.us**: [DeKalb County code](https://dekalbcounty-ga.elaws.us/code/coor_ch27_art4_27-4.2division2_sec4.2.11) - **dor.georgia.gov**: [Georgia Tax Center](https://dor.georgia.gov/tax-registration) - **gwinnettcounty.com**: [code enforcement page](https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/government/departments/planning-development/services/code-enforcement) - **gwinnettcounty.com**: [special-use conditions](https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/documents/d/gwinnett-county/sup2022-00016-pdf) - **law.justia.com**: [O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-4/chapter-11/article-1/section-4-11-3/) - **rules.sos.ga.gov**: [Rule 40-13-13](https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/40-13-13) - **sos.ga.gov**: [guide to registering a domestic entity](https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-register-domestic-entity)