Abstract: To determine whether melatonin, via its MT1 G protein‐coupled receptor, impacts mouse mammary gland development, we generated a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)‐MT1‐Flag‐mammary gland over‐expressing (MT1‐mOE) transgenic mouse. Increased expression of the MT1‐Flag transgene was observed in the mammary glands of pubescent MT1‐mOE transgenic female mice, with further significant increases during pregnancy and lactation. Mammary gland whole mounts from MT1‐mOE mice showed significant reductions in ductal growth, ductal branching, and terminal end bud formation. Elevated MT1 receptor expression in pregnant and lactating female MT1‐mOE mice was associated with reduced lobulo‐alveolar development, inhibition of mammary epithelial cell proliferation, and significant reductions in body weights of suckling pups. Elevated MT1 expression in pregnant and lactating MT1‐mOE mice correlated with reduced mammary gland expression of Akt1, phospho‐Stat5, Wnt4, estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptors A and B, and milk proteins β‐casein and whey acidic protein. Estrogen‐ and progesterone‐stimulated mammary gland development was repressed by elevated MT1 receptor expression and exogenous melatonin administration. These studies demonstrate that the MT1 melatonin receptor and its ligand melatonin play an important regulatory role in mammary gland development and lactation in mice through both growth suppression and alteration of developmental paradigms.