1.  License necessary.  A person maintaining a kennel, as defined in section 3907, subsection 17, shall annually obtain a kennel license from the department, and that person is subject to rules adopted by the department. Individuals or entities obtaining facility licenses under sections 3931‑A, 3932, 3932‑A and 3933 are not required to obtain a kennel license. A kennel license expires December 31st annually.  

2.  Application.  An individual who is required to obtain a kennel license shall submit an application with the department for such a license by January 31st annually or within 30 days of first being required to obtain a kennel license pursuant to subsection 1. In order for the State to issue a kennel license, the applicant must provide to the department a complete application, a signed inspection from an animal control officer appointed by the municipality where a kennel is located, or a humane agent if there is no animal control officer appointed by the municipality where a kennel is located, that confirms a passed inspection in compliance with subsection 5 and current rabies vaccination certificates for all animals as required by section 3916. The initial inspection must be made not more than 30 days before filing the first application for a license. Inspections to renew a kennel license must be performed annually. A humane agent may conduct an inspection of a kennel in a municipality with an animal control officer under specific and extenuating circumstances as determined by the department by rule. If the municipality does not have an animal control officer, the humane agent may conduct an inspection of a kennel by request as determined by the department by rule. If a humane agent conducts an inspection pursuant to this subsection, the municipality shall pay for the cost of the inspection.  

3.  License fees.  A kennel owner shall pay a fee to the department for each kennel license. The kennel license fee is $50 for 5 to 10 dogs, $100 for 11 to 20 dogs and $150 for 21 or more dogs. The department shall forward 20% of the collected fee to the animal welfare account established pursuant to section 3945 for the municipality in which the kennel is located and deposit the remainder into the Animal Welfare Fund established pursuant to section 3906‑B, subsection 2.  

4.  Form of license.  If a kennel license is issued in hard copy, it must be issued in triplicate, with the original copy given to the applicant, one copy given to the municipality where the applicant is located and one copy kept on file by the department. The license may be issued electronically to all parties.  

5.  Annual inspection.  An animal control officer appointed by the municipality where a kennel is located, or a humane agent if there is no animal control officer appointed by the municipality where a kennel is located, shall annually inspect the premises of the kennel prior to the State's issuing or renewing a kennel license according to rules established by the department. A humane agent may conduct an inspection of a kennel in a municipality with an appointed animal control officer under specific and extenuating circumstances as determined by the department by rule. If a humane agent conducts an inspection pursuant to this subsection, the municipality shall pay for the cost of the inspection.  

6.  License tags.  Dogs covered by a kennel license must be furnished suitable individual dog license tags indicating the year that the license is issued. License tags furnished pursuant to this subsection must be attached to the collars of the dogs covered by the kennel license in the manner prescribed under section 3923‑B, subsection 1 and subject to the exceptions prescribed under section 3923‑B, subsection 3.