Section 4-11-3. Licenses for pet dealers and kennel, stable, or animal shelter operators; requirement; issuance; application

   (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a pet dealer or operate a kennel, stable, or animal shelter unless such person has a valid license issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Any person acting without a license in violation of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) The Commissioner shall license pet dealers and kennel, stable, and animal shelter operators under the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 2, the "Department of Agriculture Registration, License, and Permit Act."

(c) Licenses shall be issued for a period of one year and shall be annually renewable. The Commissioner may establish separate classes of licenses, including wholesale and retail licenses. The Commissioner shall fix fees for licenses so that the revenue derived from licenses shall approximate the total direct cost of administering this article. The Commissioner may establish different fees for the different classes of licenses established, but the annual fee for any such license shall be at least $50.00 but shall not exceed $400.00. Any fees collected pursuant to this Code section shall be retained pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 45-12-92.1.

(d) Applications for licenses shall be on a form furnished by the Commissioner and, together with such other information as the Commissioner shall require, shall state:

   (1) The name of the applicant;

   (2) The business address of the applicant;

   (3) The complete telephone number of the applicant;

   (4) The location of the pet dealership, kennel, stable, or animal shelter;

   (5) The type of ownership of the pet dealership, kennel, stable, or animal shelter; and

   (6) The name of the owner or, if a partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity, the name of the partners or stockholders.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this Code section, the license fees fixed pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section shall be increased by 100 percent for the renewal of any license which is not renewed within ten days following the expiration date of the license or for the issuance of a new license to any person who has failed to apply for a license within ten days following the date on which written notice of the need for such license has been given to such person by the Commissioner or his authorized representative.

Code 1981, § 4-11-3, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 628, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 328, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1650, § 2; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1122, § 1; Ga. L. 2010, p. 9, § 1-17/HB 1055.