FEDERAL LEGISLATION

USDA/APHIS page, Location of Animal Welfare Act
Animal Welfare Act highlights:
"Ensuring proper animal care and comfort is not just good business-it is also required by law under the Animal Welfare Act. Passed by Congress in 1966 and amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, the law protects many animals not raised for food or fiber."
Many breeders seem confused about the AWA and what exactly it covers. In an effort to promote education I'm summarizing and quoting sections which apply to rabbit breeders. Please read this carefully to see whether or not you require a license or have an exemption. Basically if you breed and sell for meat or for fur-includes angora breeders selling wool, you are exempt from the AWA. If you sell even one rabbit as a pet or for laboratory use you are required to be licensed unless you meet an exemption. These exemptions include selling pets direct to owners, if not direct to owner you can only gross $500 or less to be exempt from licensing. Not direct to pet owner sales include sales to pet stores or pet dealers. So to not need a USDA license you can't sell $500 or more to pet stores. Gross sales refer to sales prior to subtracting expenses. Sales to auctions are considered exempt although in the course of inspecting regulated auctions the USDA may contact you to see if you need a license. I would not offer anyone information about your rabbit sales. Tell them to submit their questions in writing to you and you will respond after checking with an attorney in writing.

"The rabbit business is exempt from regulation if the rabbits are intended only for food or fiber. If any rabbits are designated for use in the pet, exhibit, or laboratory-animal trade, the business is regulated. " "No exempt business has to be licensed or registered."
-Exempt businesses: "Retail Pet stores-Anyone whose entire business consists of selling domestic animals to pet owners is exempt. However if as part of your business you exhibit animals, you may have to be licensed as an exhibitor."
"For example, you need an exhibitors license if you take animals outside the store for teaching or promotion or if you set up a petting display. You must be licensed as a dealer if you sell wild or exotic animals or if you sell regulated animals to other retailers, research institutions, exhibitors, or other animal dealers."
"Direct Sales: Anyone who sells domestic pets directly to pet owners is exempt, regardless of the sales volume. Such sales can be made in person or by mail."
"Hobby Breeders: Small scale breeders with gross sales under $500 per year are exempt, as long as these sales do not include wild or exotic animals, dogs or cats. If you own no more than three breeding female dogs or cats and sell the offspring into pet channels only, you are exempt."
"Animal Dealers: If your business falls under any of the categories of "dealers" listed below, you must be licensed by USDA. You cannot be licensed or registered as an exhibitor. You must be licensed according to what type of activity is your predominant business."
Regulated businesses:
"Pet Wholesalers-Anyone importing, buying, selling, or trading pets in wholesale channels must be licensed."
"Pet Breeders-Anyone breeding pets for the wholesale trade must be licensed." "Some small scale breeders can qualify for an exemption-see hobby breeders."
Laboratory Animal Dealers
Laboratory Animal Breeders
Animal Brokers-"Anyone who deals in regulated animals but does not take physical possession must be licensed."
Summary list from USDA:
Brokers-Licensed
Direct Sales-exempt
Hobby breeders-exempt
pet stores-exempt
Pet Animal Trade-Breeders:
Direct Sales-exempt
Sales via pet stores-licensed
Brokers-licensed

US state Animal Import Regulations

pending federal rabbit legislation

STATE LEGISLATION

State Web Site Links

H$U$ chart on US states with breeding laws & what they are

Alabama, AL http://www.legislature.state.al.us/

Alaska, AK http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/

Arizona, AZ http://www.azleg.state.az.us/

Arkansas, AR http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/

CALIFORNIA

http://www.legislature.ca.gov/

*San Francisco prohibits the sale of pet rabbits in the city AND county, this also includes giving rabbits away or bartering.

COLORADO, CO
http://www.leg.state.co.us/

State regulates rabbit breeders who sell 65 or more per year. Sales for meat are exempt.

CO Springs Chap regulation of animals

Connecticut, CT http://www.cga.ct.gov/

Delaware, DE http://www.legis.state.de.us/

District of Columbia, DC http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/

FLORIDA

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/

Exisiting laws for FL

Dade County: Section 5-2.2
This section is now law. Last I heard an ARAs had legislators add requirements for rabbits to the pet store section of this ordinance. Prior it covered regulation of dog & cat breeders, kennels, and pet stores.
GEORGIA GA

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/

*Note all rabbit breeders are required to be licensed in Georgia (exemption exists regarding sale of adult rabbits as pets
Hawaii, HI http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/

Idaho, ID http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/

Illinois, IL http://www.ilga.gov/

Indiana, IN http://www.state.in.us/legislative

Iowa, IA http://www.legis.state.ia.us/

Kansas, KS http://www.kslegislature.org/

Kentucky, KY http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/

Louisiana, LA http://www.legis.state.la.us/

Maine, ME http://janus.state.me.us/legis/

Maryland, MD http://mlis.state.md.us/

Massachusetts, MA http://www.mass.gov/legis/

Town Of Dennis: Regulations covering rabbit care and rabbitries

Michigan, MI http://www.legislature.mi.gov/

State Shelter reporting law for Dogs, Cats, & Ferrets.

Minnesota, MN http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

Mississippi, MS http://www.ls.state.ms.us/

Missouri, MO http://www.moga.state.mo.us/

Montana, MT http://leg.state.mt.us/

Nebraska, NE http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/

Nevada, NV http://www.leg.state.nv.us/

New Hampshire, NH http://gencourt.state.nh.us/

New Jersey, NJ http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/

New Mexico, NM http://legis.state.nm.us/

New York, NY State Senate: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/
State Assembly: http://assembly.state.ny.us/

North Carolina, NC http://www.ncleg.net/

North Dakota, ND http://www.legis.nd.gov/

Ohio, OH http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/

Oklahoma, OK http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/

Oregon, OR http://www.leg.state.or.us/

Pennsylvania, PA http://www.legis.state.pa.us/

Rhode Island, RI http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/

South Carolina, SC http://www.scstatehouse.net/

South Dakota, SD http://legis.state.sd.us/

Tennessee, TN http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/

Texas, TX http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/

Utah, UT http://www.le.state.ut.us/

Vermont, VT http://www.leg.state.vt.us/

Virginia, VA http://legis.state.va.us/

Washington, WA http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature

West Virginia, WV http://www.legis.state.wv.us/

Wisconsin, WI http://www.legis.state.wi.us/

Wyoming, WY http://legisweb.state.wy.us/

Resource Links:

NAIA Trust: A pro animal, pro animal owner site using education, legislation and the legal system
Center for Consumer Freedom: Organization dedicated to preserving consumer choice.
NAIA Legislative Resources

NC Responsible Animal Owners Alliance lobby day materials

Sportsmen and Animal Owners Voting Alliance Anyone Can Lobby Downloads

Lobbying tutorial

Canada & Other Countries