Home boarding and dog day care

Last Updated: 3 April 2024

Businesses need a licence to provide home boarding and day care for dogs.

Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities on Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Defra guidance on home boarding and dog day care

For guidance on home boarding and dog day care consult the CFSG Canine and Feline Sector Group legislation and guidance.

How to apply

To apply for a licence to home board and/or dog day care 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 (2023/24):

• new application fee: £196.06
• variation licence/re-evaluation of rating: £127.41

Where there are a combination of activities, the highest activity fee is applicable.

Existing licence holders will be sent the relevant application forms about a month before the renewal date.

To apply for a variation to a licence or re-evaluation of the star rating, contact the Licensing team.