Pet food registration, state by state
What each state charges for dog and cat food in small packages, when it renews, how it is filed, and whether a third party can file for you. Verified on each state's own pages, October 2026; open a state for forms, portal notes and sources.
Company license: a yearly (sometimes 2-year) permission for your company. Per product: a fee for each product/label, usually only for small packages; larger packages pay tonnage instead. Tonnage: an inspection fee on tons shipped into the state — many states exempt small packages but still want a report. ~ = banded or estimated. Who can file: “we file” only where the state gives third parties their own account; elsewhere you submit under your own name even when a preparer may fill the form.
| State | Company license | Per product | Tonnage | Route | Who can file |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ~$45 yearly · Jan 1 | $50 each ≤10 lb: per product, in lieu of tonnage; >10 lb pay tonnage yearly · Jan 1 | none for small packages | online or paper ADAI Online Permit Registration Platform | you file company's own login or signature required |
| Alaska | exempt No state registration for dog/cat food — federal rules (FDA facility registration, FSMA, labeling) still apply | ||||
| Arizona partial | $10 yearly · Jun 30 | none | $0.2/ton, $2 min quarterly · Apr 15, Jul 15, Oct 15, Jan 15 | online or paper AZDA Licensing and Payment System | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Arkansas | $10 yearly · Dec 31 | none | $0.3/ton, $10 min quarterly · May 15, Aug 15, Nov 15, Feb 15 | online or paper Plant Industries Online Payment Portal | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| California | $190 yearly · anniversary | none | none for small packages | paper (mail) | you file company's own login or signature required |
| Colorado | $75 yearly · Jan 31 | $25 each ≤10 lb: per product; >10 lb pay tonnage yearly · Jan 31 | none for small packages | online or paper AgLicense | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Connecticut | none | $80 each all package sizes; no tonnage yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | paper (mail) CT eLicense | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Delaware | none | $100 each all package sizes; no tonnage yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online Kelly Solutions eRenewals | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| District of Columbia partial | exempt No state registration for dog/cat food — federal rules (FDA facility registration, FSMA, labeling) still apply | ||||
| Florida | ~$40 yearly · Jun 30 | none | fee quarterly · Oct 30, Jan 30, Apr 30, Jul 30 | online FDACS Feed Licensing and Regulatory Website | you file company's own login or signature required |
| Georgia | ~$75 yearly · Dec 31 | $40 each ≤10 lb: per product; >10 lb covered by license yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online Kelly Registration Systems | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| Hawaii | exempt No state registration for dog/cat food — federal rules (FDA facility registration, FSMA, labeling) still apply | ||||
| Idaho | none | $40 each all package sizes: $40 per product yearly · Sep 30 | none for small packages | online ISDA Feed & Fertilizer online registration | you file no agent role published |
| Illinois | $30 yearly · Dec 31 | $90 each ≤10 lb: $90/product; >10 lb or bulk pay tonnage yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online or paper USAPlants | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Indiana | $50 yearly · Dec 31 | $50 each ≤10 lb: $50/product; >10 lb or bulk pay tonnage yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online or paper USAPlantsIN | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| Iowa | $20 2 yr · Jun 30 | $50 each ≤10 lb: per product; >10 lb pay tonnage (both if mixed) yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online IDALS Commercial Feed and Fertilizer Online Licensing Portal | you file company's own login or signature required |
| Kansas | $10 yearly · Jul 1 | $25 each ≤10 lb: $25/product; >10 lb pay tonnage yearly · Jul 1 | none for small packages | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Kentucky | none | $50 each ≤10 lb only: $50/product; any >10 lb size: $0 + tonnage yearly · Jul 1 | none for small packages | paper (mail) USA Plants account number is assigned | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| Louisiana | ~$40 yearly · Jun 30 | $10 each all sizes $10/label; ≤10 lb-only firm: $200 or tonnage yearly · Jun 30 | $1/ton, $10 min quarterly · Oct 1, Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1 | online USAPlants-LA | you file no agent role published |
| Maine | none | $100 each all package sizes: $100 per product name yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | paper (mail) | you file no agent role published |
| Maryland | none | $50 each all package sizes: $50 per product/brand yearly · Apr 30 | none for small packages | online or paper MDA State Chemist Renewal & Reporting Portal | you file (for now) agent role exists but needs agency set-up (see we-file-candidates.md) |
| Massachusetts | none | $100 each all package sizes: $100 per product yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online EEA ePLACE Portal | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| Michigan | $100 yearly · Jun 30 | none | $0.3/ton, $50 min annual · Jul 31 | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Minnesota | $75 yearly · Dec 31 | $100 each ≤10 lb only: $100/product; any >10 lb size: tonnage yearly · Jun 30 | none for small packages | online or paper MDA Online Licensing and Payment System | you file no agent role published |
| Mississippi | $100 yearly · Jan 1 | $25 each <10 lb: $25/product; ≥10 lb: tonnage; both: $25 + tonnage yearly · Jan 1 | none for small packages | online or paper MDAC FFLSP Online Registration System | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| Missouri | $35 yearly · Jun 30 | $90 each ≤10 lb only: $90/product; any >10 lb size: tonnage yearly · Jan 1 | none for small packages | online or paper MOPlants | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Montana | $100 yearly · Jan 1 | $50 each all package sizes: $50/product yearly · Jan 1 | none for small packages | online or paper MTPlants | you file no agent role published |
| Nebraska | $15 yearly · Dec 31 | $25 each ≤10 lb-only products: $25 each; any >10 lb size: tonnage yearly · Jan 31 | report only, $0 semiannual · Aug 15, Feb 15 | online or paper Nebraska AccessGov | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Nevada | $75 yearly · Dec 31 | none | $0.15/ton, $5 min quarterly · Apr 15, Jul 15, Oct 15, Jan 15 | online NDA Online Commercial Feed System | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| New Hampshire | none | $120 each all package sizes: $120 per product yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| New Jersey | $250 yearly · Jan 1 | none | $0.3/ton, $250 min annual · Jan 31 | paper (mail) | you file company's own login or signature required |
| New Mexico | none | $27 each $2 any size; ≤10 lb: +$25/product; >10 lb: tonnage too yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online or paper USAPlants | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| New York | none | $100 each all package sizes: $100 per product yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| North Carolina | none | $40 each ≤5 lb: $40; >5 lb: $5 + tonnage; both: $45; canned: $12 yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | paper (email/mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| North Dakota | none | $100 each all package sizes: $100/product ($50 if made in ND) 2 yr · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online LARS | you file no agent role published |
| Ohio | $50 yearly · Jan 31 | none | $0.25/ton annual · Feb 1 | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Oklahoma | $50 yearly · Jun 30 | none | $0.15/ton, $10 min semiannual · Jan 31, Jul 31 | online ODAFF Licensing & Registration Portal | you file company's own login or signature required |
| Oregon | exempt No state registration for dog/cat food — federal rules (FDA facility registration, FSMA, labeling) still apply | ||||
| Pennsylvania | $25 yearly · Jan 1 | none | $0.1/ton, $25 min annual · Feb 15 | online or paper PaPlants | you file no agent role published |
| Rhode Island | none | $60 each all package sizes yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online DAFE Permit Application Portal | you file no agent role published |
| South Carolina | none | $20 each all package sizes; same formula = one registration yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online or paper SCDA Feed Registration portal | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |
| South Dakota | $50 2 yr · Dec 31 | $99 each ≤10 lb: $99/product; >10 lb sizes pay tonnage yearly · Jan 31 | none for small packages | online DANR Feed and Fertilizer online portal | you file company's own login or signature required |
| Tennessee | ~$50 yearly · Jul 1 | none | fee, $50 min annual · Jul 1 | online TDA New Commercial Feed License Application | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Texas | $75 once | $50 each ≤5 lb only: $50/product; any >5 lb size → all on tonnage yearly · Sep 1 | none for small packages | paper (mail) OTSC 'Company Portal' | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Utah | none | $60 each all package sizes; same name + formula = one registration yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online or paper AIMS | you file no agent role published |
| Vermont | none | $105 each all package sizes: $105 per product yearly · Apr 1 | none for small packages | online or paper Online renewal/registration for firms with an existing Agency account | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Virginia | $50 yearly · Dec 31 | $50 each ≤10 lb: per product; canned any size; >10 lb pay tonnage yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Washington | none | $90 each <10 lb: $90/product; only ≥10 lb: $22; both sizes: $90 2 yr · Jul 1 | report only, $0 semiannual · Jul 31, Jan 31 | paper (mail) | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| West Virginia | none | $75 each ≤10 lb: $75/product; >10 lb or bulk: $100/product yearly · Dec 16 | none for small packages | online or paper WVPlants | you file form has an agent / preparer block |
| Wisconsin | $25 yearly · Feb 28 | none | $0.25/ton, $50 min annual · Feb 28 | online or paper MyDATCP v3 | you file (for now) agent role exists but needs agency set-up (see we-file-candidates.md) |
| Wyoming | none | $40 each all package sizes: $40 per product yearly · Dec 31 | none for small packages | online or paper Kelly Solutions | you file state allows a third-party filer; not offered yet |