Animal boarding licence: kennels, catteries, home boarding and day care
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 look after other people's dogs or cats for payment - in kennels, a cattery, your own home, or day care without overnight stays - you need a licence from your local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Which detailed standards apply depends on which type of boarding you do, and your inspection result sets a star rating that decides how long your licence lasts.
Short on time?Let us prepare your application - fixed fee, and we always show you the free official route first.
Get it done for you →This guide covers the four types of boarding activity, the minimum and higher welfare standards Defra sets for each, the star rating system, what it costs, and how to apply.
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 type of boarding are you doing?
Defra's statutory guidance treats kennel boarding, home boarding, cat boarding and day care as related but separate activities, each with its own detailed standards document for councils to inspect against.
| Boarding type | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Dog kennel boarding | Commercial housing of other people's dogs overnight in a dedicated kennel facility. |
| Home boarding for dogs | Housing other people's dogs overnight in your own home rather than a kennel. |
| Cat boarding | Commercial housing of other people's cats, typically in a cattery. |
| Dog day care | Looking after dogs during the day without keeping them overnight - explicitly excluded from the overnight kennel boarding rules, but still licensable in its own right. |
Source: GOV.UK, animal activities licensing guidance for local authorities, checked 23 August 2026. If you only ever board a friend or neighbour's pet unpaid and occasionally, this licensing regime is aimed at businesses, not casual favours - see the FAQ below.
Minimum standards vs higher standards
Every licensed boarding business must meet a baseline set of minimum standards, but businesses that go further, on paper and at inspection, qualify for a longer licence.
| Area | Minimum standard | Higher standard (longer licence) |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing ratio (dog kennel boarding) | 1 competent staff member per 25 dogs | 1 full-time staff member per 15 dogs, on site 24/7 |
| Sleeping area | Dog can sit, stand, lie fully stretched out and turn around; new builds at least 1.9m² | At least 2.85m² |
| Exercise | Regular exercise, toileting access at least 4 times a day | Two daily exercise sessions of 20+ minutes each |
| Overnight checks | Not separately specified beyond general welfare checks | CCTV or in-person overnight checks, with records kept |
| Records | Arrival/departure dates, medical history, vaccination records and owner contact details, kept for at least 3 years | Same, plus the fuller evidence needed to support a higher star rating |
Source: GOV.UK, dog kennel boarding licensing statutory guidance for local authorities, checked 23 August 2026. Current vaccinations (parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis), a registered vet with 24/7 contact details on display, and isolation facilities for sick animals are baseline requirements at every level.
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, and that rating directly decides how long your licence runs before you're reinspected.
| Star rating | What it reflects | Licence length |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 stars | Meets minimum standards only | 1 year |
| 3-4 stars | Meets some or all higher standards | 2 years |
| 5 stars | Low risk, meets higher standards throughout | 3 years |
Source: GOV.UK, animal activity licensing process statutory guidance for local authorities, checked 23 August 2026. A longer licence means fewer inspections, so investing in higher standards up front genuinely reduces ongoing hassle, not just the headline rating.
What does an animal boarding licence cost?
There's no single national fee - your council sets its own charge, usually covering the cost of the inspection as well as the licence itself.
GOV.UK's own guidance doesn't quote a national fee figure for any boarding type - 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 boarding licence, step by step
- Confirm which type of boarding you're doing, using the table above - kennel, home boarding, cattery or day care.
- Contact your local council, which is the licensing authority for all boarding activities.
- Prepare your premises against the minimum standards for your activity, and decide whether you're aiming for the higher standards that unlock a longer licence.
- 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 boarding 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 is reassessed at every renewal inspection, a rating - and therefore how long your next licence lasts - can go up or down depending on standards found on the day.
Frequently asked questions
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.
What's the difference between home boarding and kennel boarding?
Kennel boarding houses dogs overnight in a dedicated commercial facility, while home boarding houses them overnight in your own home - both need a licence, but they're assessed against slightly different guidance.
Do I need a licence for daytime-only dog care?
Yes - dog day care is licensable in its own right, even though it's explicitly excluded from the overnight kennel boarding standards because dogs aren't kept overnight.
How much does an animal boarding 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.
How does the star rating affect my licence length?
1-2 stars typically means a 1-year licence, 3-4 stars a 2-year licence, and 5 stars a 3-year licence - meeting the higher standards, not just the minimum, genuinely reduces how often you're reinspected.
What happens if I operate an unlicensed boarding business?
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.