Fur Buyer License

New York Fur Buyer
License 2026

Complete guide to fur buyer and dealer licensing in New York — resident and nonresident fees, record-keeping requirements, CITES compliance, pelt tagging, annual reporting deadlines, and bonding rules. New York requires a fur dealer license for all commercial fur buyers. Pelt tagging is required for bobcat, otter, and fisher. CITES compliance is mandatory for international export. Records must be kept for 5 years and annual reports are required.

License Required CITES Compliance Required Record Keeping Required Annual Report Required

2026 Fur Buyer License Quick Facts Verified 2026

Resident Fee

$45.00

Annual license

Nonresident Fee

$150.00

Annual license

Record Retention

5yr

Records must be kept on file

CITES Required

Yes

For regulated species export

License Details

New York Fur Buyer License Requirements

All commercial fur purchases in New York are regulated. Review all requirements before purchasing furs from trappers.

Requirement	Details
License Required	Yes — required
License Type	Fur Dealer License
Resident Fee	$45.00 / year
Nonresident Fee	$150.00 / year
Record Keeping Required	Yes
Record Retention Period	5 years minimum
Pelt Tagging Required	Yes — required
CITES Compliance Required	Yes — CITES compliance required
Annual Report Required	Yes — Due: March 31
Report Due Date	March 31
Bonding Required	Not required

Regulated Species

Species Requiring Special Handling in New York

The following species are subject to special fur buyer rules in New York — which may include tagging, harvest reporting, or CITES permits for export.

bobcat otter fisher

CITES Note: Bobcat and otter pelts from New York that are destined for international commercial export require CITES export permits from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. New York participates in annual harvest reporting to support the national CITES export quota program.

Record Keeping

New York Fur Buyer Record Requirements

Licensed fur buyers in New York must maintain detailed purchase records available for inspection by wildlife officers at any time.

For each purchase: species, quantity of pelts, seller name and trapping license number

Date of transaction and purchase price or fair market value

County or general area of harvest (where required by species)

Records must be retained for 5 years

Records must be available for inspection by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife officers without prior notice

Important Notes

New York-Specific Fur Buyer Rules

New York requires pelt tags on bobcat, otter, and fisher before those pelts can be purchased or transferred. Annual reports (due March 31) must itemize all species purchased by county. CITES export documentation required for bobcat, otter, and fisher going to international markets.

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (www.dec.ny.gov). Requirements verified 2026. Always confirm current license fees and record-keeping rules directly with the agency before purchasing furs.

New York