Animal activities licence: dog breeding, boarding, pet sales and more
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and GOV.UK statutory guidance on the date above
If you run a business that breeds dogs, boards other people's dogs or cats, sells animals as pets, hires out horses, or keeps or trains animals for exhibition, you need a licence from your local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Every licensed business is given a star rating from 1 to 5 based on an inspection, and that rating decides how long your licence lasts and how often you'll be checked again.
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Get it done for you →This guide covers which activities need a licence, the star rating system that sets your licence length, what it costs, and how to apply, based on Defra's statutory guidance for local authorities.
This is general information, not legal or animal-welfare advice. For anything specific to your premises or business, contact your local council's animal licensing team, or a vet, directly.
Which animal activities actually need a licence?
The 2018 Regulations, and Defra's statutory guidance for local authorities, cover seven specific licensable activities in England.
| Activity | Typical business type |
|---|---|
| Dog breeding | Anyone breeding and advertising dogs for sale as a business, or breeding 3+ litters in any 12 months and selling puppies |
| Selling animals as pets | Pet shops and anyone selling animals as pets as a business, including online sellers |
| Boarding for dogs and cats | Kennels and catteries |
| Home boarding for dogs | Boarding dogs in a private home rather than kennels |
| Dog day care | Businesses looking after dogs during the day without overnight boarding |
| Hiring out horses | Riding schools and horse-hire businesses |
| Keeping or training animals for exhibition | Businesses that exhibit animals to the public, such as some animal attractions |
Source: GOV.UK, animal activities licensing guidance for local authorities, checked 23 August 2026.
For dog breeding specifically, you need a licence if you "run a business that breeds and advertises dogs for sale," or if you breed 3 or more litters in any 12-month period and sell any of the puppies - and it doesn't matter how small the operation is, since even an individual can be classed as a business depending on the scale of what they're doing (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026). See our dedicated dog breeding licence guide for the full detail, including the vet-led inspection every application needs.
If you're boarding other people's dogs or cats - in kennels, a cattery, your own home, or day care - see our dedicated animal boarding licence guide, which covers the different welfare standards for each type of boarding.
The star rating system, and how it sets your licence length
Every licensed business is inspected and given a star rating from 1 to 5, based on its compliance history and the welfare standards found at inspection - and that rating directly decides how long your licence runs before you're reinspected.
| Star rating | What it reflects | Licence length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 star | Minor failings against minimum standards | 1 year |
| 2 stars | High risk, meets minimum standards | 1 year |
| 3 stars | Low risk, meets minimum standards | 2 years |
| 4 stars | High risk, meets higher standards | 2 years |
| 5 stars | Low risk, meets higher standards | 3 years |
Source: GOV.UK, animal activity licensing process - statutory guidance for local authorities, checked 23 August 2026. The guidance notes that businesses with longer licences need fewer inspections, since inspections tend to happen at renewal.
In practice, this means the better your welfare standards and compliance record, the longer you can go before reapplying - so a strong first inspection genuinely saves you time and hassle down the line, not just a better rating to display.
What does an animal activities licence cost?
There's no single national fee - each council sets its own charge, usually covering the cost of the inspection as well as the licence itself.
GOV.UK's own guidance for applicants doesn't quote a national fee figure - your council sets and publishes its own. Check the free official guidance on GOV.UK →
✓ Checked against GOV.UK's animal activities licensing guidance, 23 August 2026
How to apply for an animal activities licence, step by step
- Confirm which activity applies to you, using the table above, and check whether you meet the threshold (for example, the 3-litters rule for dog breeding).
- Contact your local council, which is the licensing authority for all seven activities in England.
- Appoint a vet if required - dog breeding applications in particular require a vet-led initial inspection.
- Prepare your premises to meet the minimum welfare standards for your activity, ahead of inspection.
- Undergo the council's inspection, which determines your star rating and licence length.
- Pay the council's fee, checking the exact current amount with that council directly.
- Display your licence number in any advertising and on your premises, as the conditions require.
Renewing your animal activities licence
Your licence doesn't renew automatically - you need to reapply through your council before it expires, and you'll be reinspected as part of that renewal.
Because your star rating (and therefore your licence length) is reassessed at every renewal inspection, a rating can go up or down between licence periods depending on standards found on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a dog breeding licence if I only breed one litter?
You need a licence if you're running a business that breeds and advertises dogs for sale, regardless of the number of litters, or if you breed 3 or more litters in any 12-month period and sell any of the puppies - a single occasional litter with no business element may fall outside this, but check with your council if you're unsure.
What is the star rating system for animal activity licences?
It's a 1-to-5 rating awarded at inspection, based on compliance history and welfare standards, which directly sets how long your licence lasts - from 1 year for lower ratings up to 3 years for a 5-star rating.
How much does an animal activities licence cost?
There's no national fee - each council sets its own, so check the current published fee with the specific council you're applying to.
Do I need a licence to board my neighbour's dog occasionally, unpaid?
The licensing requirement targets businesses providing boarding, so a genuinely occasional, unpaid favour for a neighbour is unlikely to need a licence - but if you're regularly paid to board other people's dogs or cats, you likely do, so check with your council if you're unsure.
Who inspects premises for an animal activities licence?
Your local council carries out the inspection, and for dog breeding a vet must be appointed to carry out the initial inspection as part of the application.
What happens if I operate without an animal activities licence?
You risk up to 6 months in prison or an unlimited fine for operating without a required licence, and an unlimited fine for breaching the conditions of a licence you hold.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to GOV.UK, Defra, any local council or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or animal-welfare advice - for anything specific to your business or premises, contact your local council's animal licensing team, or a vet, directly.