Animal boarding establishments - dogs and cats

Overview

You need a licence to run a boarding kennel or cattery. The number of dogs and/or cats that can be accommodated, along with any other conditions, will be specified on the licence.

Public register

There is no legal requirement to keep a register. Please contact us if you want to know whether a premises is licensed.

Restrictions

At the time of the application, you must not be disqualified from any of the following:

Keeping an animal boarding establishment
Keeping a pet shop under the Pet Animals Act 1951
Keeping animals under the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954

Requirements

When processing your application, we will consider the following:

That the animals will be kept in suitable accommodation at all times. Suitable accommodation takes into account the construction and size of the accommodation, the number of animals to be housed in it, facilities for exercising the animals, cleanliness and temperature, lighting and ventilation provisions.
Suitable food, drink and bedding will be provided and that the animals are exercised and visited regularly
That steps are taken to prevent and control the spread of disease and that isolation facilities are in place
That adequate protection is provided in case of fire and other emergencies
A register is kept containing
- Description of all animals received
- Arrival and departure date
- Name and address of owner

This register should be available to be inspected at any time by a local authority officer or vet.

How to apply or renew a licence

Please complete our online application form below.

Fee

The fee to apply is £313. This fee is non-refundable.

Licence conditions guidance

Please read the following documents to make sure you can comply with the licence conditions:

Supporting information

To progress your application, the following supporting documents are advised to be provided at the time of the application:

Feeding regimes
Cleaning regimes
Transportation
Prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease
Monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals
Death or escape of an animal (including the storage of carcasses)
Care of the animals following the suspension or revocation of the licence or during and following an emergency

Before you fill in this form

You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself a couple of minutes to fill in the form.

You will need:

A payment card, Apple Pay or Google Pay*
Supporting documents about your procedures

Apply for an animal boarding licence

How long will my application take?

We aim to determine applications within 28 days from receipt of a completed application, including payment.

Licence expiry

Licences expire when the term of the licence has ended. For example, if a one-year licence has been issued on 3 July 2025, then it will expire on 2 July 2026. They must be renewed each year before that date.

Will Tacit Consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before we can grant a licence. Please contact us if you have not heard from us within a reasonable period.

Change of circumstances

You must tell us if there any change in circumstances. This includes surrendering a licence or any other changes. There is a fee due in respect of any change that requires a new licence to be issued.

Guidance

Please read the Guidance notes for the boarding of cats or dogs