Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Colorado does not issue a separate cattery license. If your cat breeding or boarding operation meets the state's PACFA pet animal facility definition, you need one license from the Colorado Department of Agriculture before opening. Local zoning approval often comes first. License fees are set by CDA rule, inspection fees are separate, and the state has no fixed approval deadline.
Do you need a license for a cattery in Colorado?
Short answer: yes, if the operation is a PACFA pet animal facility. Colorado does not issue a separate piece of paper called a cattery license. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) runs the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, known as PACFA, and it licenses cat breeding and boarding operations as pet animal facilities [1]. The statute is blunt: "It is unlawful for any person to operate a pet animal facility in this state without a license issued by the commissioner" [4]. A cattery that keeps cats for breeding, sale, boarding, or transfer falls under the PACFA definition in C.R.S. 35-80-102 [3].
If you have a few pet cats in a private home and never sell, board, or breed for money, you are probably outside PACFA. If you advertise kittens, collect stud fees, board cats, or use a separate building, assume you are inside the law. CDA walks you through a facility type determination on its PACFA application page [6]. Get a written confirmation from CDA when you are near the line.
Local rules run separately. A city or county can require a kennel permit even when PACFA treats you as a hobby home. The full start-up sequence for Colorado is here: how to start a cattery in Colorado.
What does Colorado count as a cattery under PACFA?
Colorado's legal term is pet animal facility. C.R.S. 35-80-102 includes places that breed, board, train, groom, or sell pet animals [3]. CDA licensing categories carry the same idea: breeder, boarding facility, shelter or rescue, pet store, groomer, day care. A cattery can occupy more than one category if you breed and board cats. The application asks you to choose the main use [6].
There is no single public cat count that decides the line for every county. The state looks at what you do and how many cats you keep in a commercial arrangement. A person with four pet cats and no sales is generally outside PACFA. A person with one breeding queen and a litter sold to the public is generally inside. Because the exact boundary lives in the definitions and current rules, read 8 CCR 1201-11 along with the statute [2].
If you are building a dedicated cattery room, plan it as a licensed facility from day one. Converting later costs more.
How much does a cattery license cost in Colorado?
Colorado does not put a flat cattery license fee in statute. C.R.S. 35-80-109 lets the commissioner set fees by rule, with fees tied to facility type and size [5]. The one place to pull today's number is CDA's PACFA fee schedule [11]. The current schedule separates application and license fees from inspection and reinspection fees, so your total is the sum of the applicable charges.
For planning, the state fee is usually the smallest line item. The current schedule will show you whether your operation is in a lower or higher class [11]. USDA fees, if required, are a separate annually updated schedule [8]. Local zoning review can cost more than the PACFA paper.
Build a simple fee table: CDA PACFA license fee, CDA inspection fee, local kennel permit, zoning hearing fee if required. Pull each number from the issuing office. Do not build a budget from a forum post.
How long does it take to get a cattery license in Colorado?
No statute gives you a 30-day or 60-day guarantee. C.R.S. 35-80-106 says you need the license before you operate, but it does not set a number of days for CDA to act [4]. The practical sequence is local zoning first, then the PACFA application, then the initial inspection. Clean paper moves faster than incomplete paper.
The most common timeline killer is local. If your county requires a special use review or a public hearing, add weeks. If you need a building permit, add more. CDA cannot approve a use that local government has not approved [10].
Plan in this order: ask zoning, confirm the use in writing, complete the CDA application, schedule the inspection. No board can promise a date certain.
The application path: CDA PACFA license paperwork
Start with the law and rule, not the form. Read C.R.S. 35-80 and 8 CCR 1201-11 [2]. Then download the PACFA license application from CDA [6]. You will identify owners, facility address, facility type, number of animals, and the responsible person [6]. Attach a site sketch and floor plan where the application asks for it.
Pay the current fee shown on the CDA fee schedule [11]. Mail or upload the packet. CDA will process the application and schedule the initial inspection. If the inspection passes and the paperwork is clean, CDA issues the license. If you have past PACFA violations, disclose them. An omission causes more delay than the violation.
If you want the state and federal documents organized in one place, CatteryPath's $149 USDA + State Cattery Kit pairs the CDA PACFA checklist with USDA forms. It does not file for you. You sign and submit.
Zoning and local permits before the state will talk to you
Colorado local governments hold most land use power. Counties exercise zoning authority under C.R.S. 30-28-101, and cities have similar authority [10]. A cattery may be a home occupation, a commercial kennel, or an agricultural use depending on the county language.
Call or email your county planning and zoning office before you build. Ask: Is a cat breeding or boarding cattery allowed in my zone district, and what permit name do you issue? Get the answer in writing. Some counties call it a kennel permit; some call it a special use permit.
Do not spend money on HVAC, enclosures, or litter drainage until zoning says yes. A denied special use review can waste a property you bought for the cattery. Nearby states take different local approaches, so compare cattery license in Arizona if you are still choosing a location.
Do Colorado catteries need a USDA license?
Most small catteries that sell directly to the public do not need a USDA Animal Welfare Act license. A retail sale from your own premises to the final owner generally falls outside the dealer definition under the AWA [9]. If you sell kittens to a pet store, broker, or research facility, you can fall into Class A breeder or Class B dealer territory and need a USDA license [8].
USDA user fees update each year and are separate from CDA PACFA fees [8]. Check the USDA licensing page if your buyer is a reseller rather than a family home. If you sell only to pet owners who visit your cattery or buy direct, USDA likely stays out.
California has its own layer, so compare cattery license in California only if you operate across state lines or ship into California.
Cattery facility standards and inspections in Colorado
PACFA gives CDA authority to inspect before licensing and after it issues. CDA's inspection program covers animal care, enclosures, sanitation, ventilation, record keeping, and disease control [7]. Expect the initial pre-license inspection after your application and before license issuance. The state may inspect annually after that.
Build to the rules in 8 CCR 1201-11, not to a photo from Instagram. The rules cover primary enclosures, feeding, watering, cleaning, isolation for sick cats, and transport records [2]. An inspector does not care how pretty the room is. They care whether waste is handled, quarantine is possible, and records match the animals present.
Photograph every enclosure and cleaning station before the inspection. A clean room with no written disease control plan can still get cited.
First-year operating budget for a Colorado cattery
Colorado startup costs are local. Nobody has good statewide data on this. The closest real numbers are your own construction estimate and the current CDA fee schedule [11]. A garage conversion can run under $5,000; a detached purpose-built cattery can pass $50,000. Those figures are honest ranges, not a study.
Use a line-item budget: breeding stock, veterinary exams, vaccinations, microchips, food, litter, local permit, PACFA license, USDA license if any, insurance, and marketing. Do not leave out the local hearing fee if your county charges one. The state fee is rarely the reason a cattery fails; the build and the local permit are.
For the full Colorado start-up sequence, read how to start a cattery in Colorado. If you are deciding between Colorado and Alaska, how to start a cattery in Alaska has the colder state's trigger.
The paper trail: what to keep for your Colorado license
PACFA rules require records, so start them on day one. Keep a file for each cat: name or ID, breed, sex, age, source, health record, and disposition. CDA inspectors can ask to see acquisition and disposition records during inspections [7].
If you sell a kitten, keep the buyer's full name, address, phone, date of transfer, and a signed contract. If you board a cat, keep owner contact, dates, feeding instructions, and vaccination proof. These records are good business and are the first thing an inspector checks. Digital records work if you can show them on site. A binder is easier when the inspector is there.
Common cattery license rejection reasons in Colorado
Denials most often start at the local level. CDA commonly stops an application when the facility type is unclear, the fee is wrong, the operator lacks local approval, or the pre-license inspection fails [6][7]. Zoning denial is the biggest cattery killer in Colorado.
Before you apply to CDA, fix these: confirm the zone allows the use, write a sanitation and quarantine plan, draw the floor plan with entrances and drains, and choose one primary facility type. If you breed and board, list breeding as primary and explain boarding in the notes.
A failed initial inspection is a correction list, not a final no. But reinspection fees can apply and the delay is yours. Prepare before the first visit.
Where Colorado cattery licensing gets confusing
People confuse PACFA, city permits, and USDA. You can hold a PACFA license and still be illegal in your county. You can be USDA-exempt and still need PACFA. The safe order is local zoning, state PACFA, then federal check.
CatteryPath is an independent publisher, not a law firm and not a filing service. The $149 kit organizes the CDA and USDA paper, but the Colorado Department of Agriculture makes the decision. Read the cited sources yourself. The laws change; the application does not.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for a cattery in Colorado?
Yes, if the cattery is a PACFA pet animal facility under C.R.S. 35-80-102. Colorado does not issue a separate cattery license. The Colorado Department of Agriculture licenses breeders, boarding facilities, and similar operations under PACFA. A private home with a few pet cats and no sales is usually outside the requirement. If you breed, board, or sell cats, assume you need the license and confirm with CDA [1][3].
How much does a cattery cost in Colorado?
License cost is not a flat fee in statute. C.R.S. 35-80-109 lets CDA set fees by facility type and size [5]. Pull the current PACFA fee schedule from CDA [11]. Total startup cost is separate and includes local permits, construction, breeding stock, veterinary care, and insurance. A garage conversion can cost under $5,000, while a detached purpose-built room can pass $50,000.
How long does cattery take in Colorado?
Colorado law does not set a fixed approval deadline. The process depends on local zoning clearance, CDA application completeness, and inspection scheduling. A clean application can move quickly, but a county special use review can add weeks. Build the sequence as zoning, PACFA application, inspection, then license. No state board guarantees an approval date [4][10].
What is PACFA in Colorado?
PACFA stands for the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, codified at C.R.S. 35-80-101 and following sections. It requires licensing and inspection of pet animal facilities, including many catteries, breeders, boarding kennels, shelters, rescues, pet stores, and groomers. The Colorado Department of Agriculture runs the program [1].
Does Colorado have a separate cattery license?
No. Colorado issues PACFA pet animal facility licenses by facility type. A cattery that breeds or boards cats qualifies for a PACFA license, but the state does not call it a cattery license. Some cities and counties do issue local kennel or cattery permits, so you may hold both a PACFA license and a local permit [1][10].
What happens if I run a cattery without a Colorado PACFA license?
Operating a pet animal facility without a PACFA license is unlawful under C.R.S. 35-80-106. CDA can issue penalties and stop the operation. Local code enforcement can add penalties. The safe move is to stop sales and boarding until you have both state and local approval [4].
Do I need a USDA license for a cattery in Colorado?
Not for most direct-to-public catteries. If you sell kittens straight to owners from your own premises, you generally fall outside USDA dealer licensing. If you sell to pet stores, brokers, or research, you may need a USDA Class A or B license. USDA fees are separate from PACFA [8][9].
Can I run a cattery from a residential home in Colorado?
Maybe. Counties and cities decide home occupation rules. Some allow small catteries in a residence with restrictions; others require a commercial kennel permit or special use review. You must confirm your zone district before applying for PACFA. Local approval is a separate paper path [10].
How many cats can I have before I need a license in Colorado?
There is no one state number that applies to every property. PACFA licensing depends on what you do with the cats and whether the operation is a pet animal facility. Local animal limits may apply earlier. If you breed, board, or sell, do not rely on a cat count to avoid the license. Confirm with CDA [1][3].
What does a PACFA inspection cover for a cattery?
A PACFA inspection covers animal care, primary enclosures, sanitation, ventilation, food and water, isolation of sick cats, and record keeping. The initial inspection happens before licensing. CDA may inspect annually after that. The current rules are in 8 CCR 1201-11 [2][7].
How often do I renew my Colorado PACFA license?
PACFA licenses are annual in practice; CDA sets renewal periods in its licensing process. Check the current application packet and fee schedule for the renewal date. You should renew before expiration to avoid a lapse. A lapsed license can trigger reinspection and late fees [6][11].
Do I need a local kennel permit as well as PACFA?
Often yes. PACFA is a state license and does not preempt county or city zoning. Many Colorado counties require a kennel permit, home occupation permit, or special use review for a cattery. Confirm local requirements in writing before you file the CDA application [10].
What insurance do I need for a Colorado cattery?
No state PACFA rule requires general liability insurance, but local permits sometimes require it. A small business policy can cover customer injury, animal escapes, and property damage. Talk to an insurance agent familiar with animal boarding or breeding. Verify any local insurance condition before opening.
Sources
- Colorado Department of Agriculture, Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA): CDA runs PACFA licensing and inspection for pet animal facilities, including catteries.
- Colorado Department of Agriculture, PACFA Statutes and Rules: PACFA statutes and rules include 8 CCR 1201-11 facility standards.
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 35-80-102 via Justia: Defines pet animal facility and covered activities.
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 35-80-106 via Justia: Makes operating a pet animal facility without a CDA license unlawful.
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 35-80-109 via Justia: Authorizes commissioner to set fees by rule.
- Colorado Department of Agriculture, PACFA License Application: CDA provides PACFA application form and facility type determination.
- Colorado Department of Agriculture, PACFA Inspections: CDA inspects PACFA facilities before and after licensing.
- eCFR, Title 9 Part 2, USDA Licensing Regulations: AWA dealer definition and exemptions govern retail versus wholesale sales.
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 30-28-101 via Justia: Counties have zoning authority relevant to cattery permits.
- Colorado Department of Agriculture, PACFA Fees: CDA publishes fee schedule by facility type.