22 states give buyers a legal right to a refund, an exchange or vet costs when a puppy turns out to be sick, and 28 set a minimum age to sell a puppy, almost always 8 weeks. Pick a state for the time limits, who is covered and the law behind it.
| State | Puppy lemon law (time to report) | Minimum sale age |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No state law |
| Alaska | No | No state law |
| Arizona | Yes: 15 days, 60 days hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Arkansas | Yes: 10 days | No state law |
| California | Yes: 15 days, 1 year hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Colorado | No | 8 weeks |
| Connecticut | Yes: 20 days, 6 months hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Delaware | Yes: 20 days, 2 years hereditary | No state law |
| District of Columbia | No | 6 weeks |
| Florida | Yes: 14 days, 1 year hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Georgia | No | 8 weeks |
| Hawaii | No | No state law |
| Idaho | No | No state law |
| Illinois | Yes: 21 days, 1 year hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Indiana | No | 8 weeks |
| Iowa | No | No state law |
| Kansas | No | 8 weeks |
| Kentucky | No | No state law |
| Louisiana | No | 8 weeks |
| Maine | Yes: 10 days, 1 year hereditary | 7 weeks |
| Maryland | Yes: 14 days, 180 days hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Massachusetts | Yes: 14 days | 8 weeks |
| Michigan | No | 8 weeks |
| Minnesota | Yes: 10 days, 1 year hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Mississippi | No | No state law |
| Missouri | No | 8 weeks |
| Montana | No | No state law |
| Nebraska | Yes: 7 business days, 15 months hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Nevada | Yes: 10 days | 8 weeks |
| New Hampshire | Yes: 14 days | 8 weeks |
| New Jersey | Yes: 14 days, 180 days hereditary | No state law |
| New Mexico | No | No state law |
| New York | Yes: 14 business days, 180 calendar days hereditary | 8 weeks |
| North Carolina | No | No state law |
| North Dakota | No | No state law |
| Ohio | No | 8 weeks |
| Oklahoma | No | No state law |
| Oregon | Yes: 15 days, 1 year hereditary | No state law |
| Pennsylvania | Yes: 10 days, 30 days hereditary | 8 weeks |
| Rhode Island | Yes: 20 days, 2 years hereditary | No state law |
| South Carolina | Yes: 14 days, 6 months hereditary | 8 weeks |
| South Dakota | No | No state law |
| Tennessee | No | No state law |
| Texas | No | 8 weeks |
| Utah | No | 8 weeks |
| Vermont | Yes: 7 days, 1 year hereditary | No state law |
| Virginia | Yes: 10 days, 10 days hereditary | 7 weeks |
| Washington | No | No state law |
| West Virginia | No | No state law |
| Wisconsin | No | 7 weeks |
| Wyoming | No | No state law |
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions: read the statute or ask the consumer protection office of your state attorney general before you act.
Summary based on the state statutes as listed by the Animal Legal & Historical Center of Michigan State University College of Law (purchaser protection laws as of 2023, minimum sale age as of 2025).
Questions
Which states have a puppy lemon law?
22 states have a pet purchaser protection law: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.
How old does a puppy have to be to be sold?
Most states that set a minimum age use 8 weeks. District of Columbia (6 weeks), Maine (7 weeks), Virginia (7 weeks) and Wisconsin (7 weeks) set a lower age. Federal rules for licensed dealers also use 8 weeks and weaned.
What is a puppy lemon law?
A state law that gives the buyer of a dog a set time to have a veterinarian certify that it was sick or had a hereditary defect when sold, and then the right to a refund, an exchange or payment of the vet costs. Most only cover pet stores and larger breeders.