Animal Boarding (for cats and dogs)
Last Updated: 7 May 2024
Businesses need a boarding licence to provide or arrange accommodation for other people's cats and dogs.
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities on Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
Defra guidance on animal boarding
For guidance on animal boarding (including kennels and catteries) consult the Legislation and Guidance on the CFSG Canine and Feline Sector Group website.
How to apply
To apply for an animal boarding licence you should fill in the animal welfare application form (DOC 76KB / 7 pages).
The application form should be returned to the Licensing Team, along with any supporting documentation and the relevant fee:
Existing fees (2024/25):
- new application fee: £260.00
- renewal application fee: £223.52
- variation licence: £36.00, plus inspection & (risk assessment fee, if applicable at £48.00 per hour)
- re-evaluation of rating: £136.00
- variation of licence – new licensing activity/addition of home boarding host: £36.00 (for each additional licensing activity/additional host) plus inspection & risk assessment fee at £48.00 per hour
Where there are a combination of activities, the highest activity fee is applicable.
Existing licence holders will be sent relevant application forms about a month prior to the renewal date.
To apply for a variation to a licence or re-evaluation of the star rating, contact the Licensing team.