Meat processing regulations by state
Meat processing requirements vary by state and by the type of animals you process. Use this directory to find official regulatory resources for wild game, domestic livestock, meat inspection and related processing requirements across the U.S.
Important: This directory is intended to help processors find official regulatory sources. Requirements may come from multiple agencies and can vary by species, operation type, inspection status and location. Always confirm the rules that apply to your facility directly with the appropriate regulatory agencies.
Finding the right regulatory resources
Meat processors can fall under more than one regulatory authority. Wildlife agencies may oversee requirements involving harvested game, tagging, possession and transportation, while agriculture, meat inspection, food safety or health agencies may oversee domestic livestock and processing operations.
The resources below connect you with the primary state agencies and official regulatory information available for each state.
Regulations change, so always confirm current requirements directly with the appropriate agency before making compliance or operational decisions.
State meat processing resources
Use the selector below to jump directly to your state.
Alabama
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Alaska
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Arizona
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Arkansas
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
California
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Delaware
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Georgia
Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
Hawaii
Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Idaho
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Illinois
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Indiana
Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife
Iowa
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Kansas
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Kentucky
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Maine
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
Maryland
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Michigan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Missouri
Missouri Department of Conservation
Montana
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Nebraska
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nevada
Nevada Department of Wildlife
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
New Jersey
New Jersey Fish & Wildlife
New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Wildlife
New York
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
North Carolina
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
North Dakota
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
Ohio
Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oregon
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Rhode Island
Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
South Dakota
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Tennessee
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Utah
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Vermont
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Virginia
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Washington
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
West Virginia
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Additional regulatory resources
State requirements are only part of the regulatory picture. Federal agencies may also have jurisdiction depending on the animals being processed, the type of operation and how products are sold or distributed.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service oversee federal meat and poultry inspection requirements.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Federal wildlife regulations may apply to certain species and activities in addition to state wildlife requirements.
A note about regulatory requirements
This directory is provided as a starting point for finding official government resources. It is not legal, regulatory or food-safety advice.
Requirements can vary by species, operation type, inspection status, processing method, location and how products enter commerce. A meat processor may be subject to requirements from state wildlife agencies, departments of agriculture, meat inspection programs, health departments, local authorities and federal agencies.
Agency responsibilities, regulations and URLs can change. Confirm current requirements directly with the appropriate regulatory authority before making compliance or operational decisions.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Cleavr Connection
Keep every order connected from intake to invoice
Regulatory requirements are one part of running a processing operation. Your team still has to keep animals, customers, instructions, products, inventory and order status connected as work moves through the plant.
Cleavr helps independent meat processors manage that operational workflow in one purpose-built system, whether you process domestic livestock, wild game or both.