• Expires: December 31^st
• Cost: $200 new, $100 renewal
• Contact: Animal Industry Division at 517-373-1077
• Forms:
  • Pet Shop Application Form
  • Pet Shop Animal Record Form
• Directory of Licensed Pet Shop Facilities

Who needs a license?

A Pet Shop is defined by state law as a place where animals are sold or offered for sale, exchange, or transfer. You will need a Pet Shop License to sell dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, hedgehogs, sugargliders, or any other non-rodent, non-livestock mammals. Please note that breeders which are selling offspring as a result of breeding his or her own animals are exempt, and, thus, do not need a Pet Shop License.

What fees are required in order to operate a Pet Shop in Michigan?

The fee to establish a new business is $200.00. From there, there is a yearly renewal fee of $100.

How Do I apply for a Pet Shop License?

1. Review the associated laws and regulations governing pet shops. Knowledge of these laws is required before a license will be issued. Public Act 287 of 1969 details what types of stores need to attain a pet shop license to conduct business. Follow these links to additional materials and laws and regulations pertaining to pet shops.
2. Arrange for veterinary service for the pet store.
3. Review and complete an application form providing all of the information requested. If a section is not applicable, please put a line through that section. (Click here for aid in completing the application form.)
   
4. Submit the completed application, along with a check or money order for $200.00, payable to State of Michigan to: Michigan Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Division, PO Box 30776, Lansing, MI 48909-8276.
5. After your application has been approved and processed, a Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) employee will contact you to verify that your facility is ready for inspection. If the facility is ready for inspection, a MDA inspector, typically a Field Veterinarian, will then contact you to set-up and conduct a pre-licensing inspection of the facility
6. Upon completion of the pre-licensing inspection, the inspection report is sent to the Lansing office for a manager’s review. Once the facility has passed inspection and managerial review, a Pet Shop License will be issued and mailed. Please note that if there are problems found either by the inspector or the manager, you will be given suggestions for improvement as well as a re-inspection date.
7. After receiving the license, you may then conduct business as a pet shop. Please note that your license expires yearly on December 31st. You must renew your license by December 31st each year or you may be subject to penalties. You will receive a renewal promptly by mail each year.

How long does it take to process my first-time application?

MDA strives to provide a timely response to pet shop license applications. Typically it takes 4-8 weeks to receive a license.
Processing may take considerably longer if your application is incomplete for any of the following reasons:

• The application is received without the license fee – a letter and a copy of the application will be returned to the sender. The application will not be processed until the form has been returned with the correct fee.
• Portions of the application are left blank -- a letter and a copy of the application will be returned with to the sender with the blank fields marked. Please note that we must have a business phone number as well as veterinarian information. The application will not be processed until the form has been completed in its entirety and returned.
• Payment is received without an application. MDA collects fees for many different types of licenses and fees. Any funds that are sent to MDA are received initially by the department’s finance office. The type of application accompanying the funds tells the cashier to which of several divisions or programs to forward the materials. If there is no application, the money may be forwarded to another division. If the animal industry division receives a copy of the check, the division will send out an application with a letter to the address sited on the check. The application will not be processed until the department receives the completed application.

Your license can not be issued until you pass an inspection. As such, your license may also be delayed if your facility does not pass inspection or is not fully constructed. If your facility does not pass inspection, the department will provide feedback at the time of inspection for improvement as well as a re-inspection date.

You can help speed the processing of your application by being sure your application is complete and includes the correct fee; by thoroughly reviewing the laws, regulations, and other documents provided here; and by making sure your facility is constructed and ready for inspection.

If we have sent in an application, when can we begin operating a Pet Shop?

Once you receive your license from MDA, you may then begin to operate a Pet Shop. You must not sell regulated animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, etc) until you have received your license.

When does my Pet Shop License Expire?

Your Pet Shop License expires yearly on December 31st. As it is against the law to operate without a license, you must renew your license prior to December 31st.

How do I renew my Pet Shop License?

A renewal application will be mailed to all licensed facilities by the end of October each year. Complete the application and submit it to the department with the renewal fee of $100.00.

Please note that you must apply as a new facility if there has been a change in ownership/management or address. You may not simply renew your application if any of these changes have occurred. (See “What should I do if there are changes in veterinarian or in company ownership, name, or address?” below.)

Is there anything I can do to speed the issuance of my license?

You can help speed the processing of your application by being sure your application is complete and includes the correct fee; by thoroughly reviewing the laws, regulations, and other documents; and by making sure your facility is constructed and ready for inspection

What should I do if there are changes in veterinarian or in company ownership, name, or address?

A business is issued a license. If there is a change in business address or ownership, the license does not transfer. As such, the license for the old address/owner becomes inactive. When such a change occurs, the applicant must submit a new application with the new license fee immediately. We will need to conduct a new inspection to make sure that the facility meets the requirements of the regulations. In addition, we will review the requirements with the new owner at the visit. Once the facility has passed inspection and licensure has been approved by the program manager, a license will be issued for the new business location or owner. Once the license is received, the business may then operate as a Pet Shop.

If your business changes its business name under which it is licensed, but remains under the same ownership and address, please submit a completed copy of the application reflecting the changes immediately so that the license and records can be updated accordingly. You will receive an updated license in the mail reflecting the change.

Under Law, a pet shop must work with a veterinarian. This veterinarian must be sited on the application. If your business changes veterinarians, please submit a completed copy of the application reflecting the changes immediately so that we may update our records.

How do I file a complaint against a pet store?

Please contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture directly at (517) 373-1077 to file a complaint. Please have the name and location of the facility, as well as the time and date you were at the facility, if visited.

What Facilities are currently licensed as pet stores?

See the Directory of Licensed Pet Shop Facilities.

Laws and Regulations

The laws relative to Pet Shops are (follow the links):

• Pet Shops, Dog Pounds and Animal Shelters: Public Act 287 of 1969, as amended:
  The primary law pertaining to pet shops. This law specifies who does and does not need a pet shop license and it includes requirements for importing and selling puppies and kittens.

• Regulation 151 (Pet Shops, Dog Pounds and Animal Shelters):
  Regulations and requirements for operating a licensed pet shop. This is a very important regulation to read and understand, as it covers areas that MDA Inspectors review when visiting pet stores.

• The Animal Industry Act: Public Act 466 of 1988, as amended:
  Requirements for importing wild and exotic animals such as birds and reptiles.

• Bodies of Dead Animals: Public Act 239 of 1982:
  An Act to license and regulate animal food manufacturing plants, transfer stations, dead animal dealers, rendering plants, and certain vehicles.

• Regulations for Public Act 239 of 1982
  Bodies of Dead Animals

• Liability of Owner for Dog Bite: Public Act 73 of 1939
  An Act providing for the recovery of damages by persons bitten by dogs; and creating a liability of the owners of such dogs.

• The Turtle Act: Public Act 424 of 1988
  State requirements for the sale of small turtles. (Federal law covers to whom turtles may be sold, state law covers specifics about the sale.)

• The Ferret Act: Public Act 358 of 1994
  Legalized and controls the sale and breeding of ferrets.

• Sale of Baby Chicks, Rabbits, Ducklings, or Other Fowl or Game: Public Act 163 of 1945:
  Prohibits the sale of dyed chicks, rabbits, ducklings, etc.
  

• Pseudorabies and Swine Brucelosis Control and Eradication Act: Public Act 239 of 1992:
  Swine laws, pertinent for stores selling pot-bellied or other pet pigs.

Additional Materials

• An Overview of Regulations Governing Animal Shelters and Dog Pounds
  This sheet summarizes requirements of Public Act 287 of 1969 and Regulation 151.

• Rabies and Animal (Mammal) Bite Protocol Sheet
  Breaks down the proper procedures for potential and positive rabies situations.

• Proper Disposal of Animal Carcasses Brochure
  Summarizes state requirements for disposal of dead animals.

• Ferret Health Advisory Sheet Memorandum
  Explains requirements for the Ferret Health Advisory Sheet as required by Public Act 358 of 1994.

• Ferret Health Advisory Sheet
  Must accompany every ferret sold or transferred in the State of Michigan.

• Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) Brochure
  This brochure explains the disease chlamydiosis and how it effects birds and humans.

• Turtle Health Advisory Sheet
  This sheet must be distributed whenever turtle eggs or live turtles smaller than 4 inches in shell length are sold in Michigan.

• Salmonella in Reptiles
  This fact sheet explains the disease salmonella and how it effects reptiles and humans.
  

• NASPHV Psittacosis Compendium
  Requirements for chlamydiosis/psittacosis control.

• NASPHV Rabies Compendium
  Requirements for rabies control.