1. (a) This section applies to all counties, including Baltimore City.

2. (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subtitle, a person shall obtain a kennel license from the local licensing agency if the person:

   1. (1) owns or has custody of 6 or more unspayed female dogs over the age of 6 months kept for the purpose of breeding the dogs and selling their offspring; or
   2. (2) sells dogs from six or more litters in a year.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Each local licensing agency shall collect and maintain a record of the following information for each kennel license issued in the county:

      1. (i) name of the licensee;
      2. (ii) address of the licensee;
      3. (iii) number of dogs maintained by the licensee; and
      4. (iv) number of puppies sold by the licensee in the preceding year.
   2. (2) On or before January 15 of each year, each local licensing agency shall report to the Maryland Department of Labor the information collected under this subsection for the preceding year.
4. (d) The governing body of a county may establish additional kennel license fees to cover the cost of collecting, maintaining, and submitting the records and reports required under subsection (c) of this section.
5. (e) This section may not be construed to prohibit the governing body of a county from enacting more stringent kennel licensing ordinances.

Added by Acts 2013, c. 119, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2013. Amended by Acts 2014, c. 45, § 1, eff. April 8, 2014; Acts 2017, c. 414, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 415, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2019, c. 8, § 5.