Do I Need a Licence to Board Dogs at Home? A Guide for England
Boarding other people's dogs in your home as a business in England? You need a council licence. What counts, the key rules and how to apply.
Do I Need a Licence to Board Dogs at Home? A Guide for England
By Shane Webster, founder of My Pet Pal
Sign up as a pet care provider today
List your services free, get found by local pet owners, and manage bookings and card payments in one place.
Sign up free →Quick answer: Yes. If you look after other people's dogs overnight in your own home as a business in England, you need a home boarding licence from your local council. Dog sitters who look after a dog in its own home don't need one. The rules come from the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Lots of sitters and walkers add overnight stays because owners ask for them. It's a natural next step, and a good one. But home boarding is a licensed activity in England, and the rules are more detailed than many people expect. This guide sets out what counts, what the council will look for, and how to apply, based on the GOV.UK statutory guidance last updated on 1 June 2026.
Who needs a home dog boarding licence?
GOV.UK says anyone who provides or arranges boarding for cats or dogs in England needs a licence. That includes dog boarding businesses run from home and businesses that arrange boarding for other people's pets, such as franchises and agencies. It also says plainly that you still need a business licence if you only care for a few animals at home.
The key question is whether you're doing it as a business. The statutory guidance asks councils to consider whether you make a sale, carry out the activity to make a profit, or earn any commission or fee. Councils also look at HMRC's "badges of trade", the tests HMRC uses to decide whether someone is trading.
Is there an income threshold for a home boarding licence?
The statutory guidance points to the HMRC trading income allowance. If your trading income is below that allowance, a licence is not required. GOV.UK sets the trading allowance at up to £1,000 a year.
Going over £1,000 doesn't automatically make you a business in the council's eyes. But if you take regular bookings and charge a fee, plan on needing a licence. If you're unsure, speak to your council's licensing team before you take bookings, not after.
What doesn't need a home boarding licence?
| Activity | Home boarding licence needed? |
|---|---|
| Boarding other people's dogs overnight in your home, as a business | Yes |
| Dog sitting in the owner's own home | No |
| Dog day care outside a home environment | No, but it needs a separate dog day care licence |
| Cat boarding | No, but it needs a cat boarding licence |
| Arranging boarding for others (franchise or agency) | Yes, the arranging business is in scope |
| Housing dogs at a vet practice as part of treatment | No |
| Dog walking | Not one of the activities listed in the 2018 Regulations |
What are the main rules for home boarders?
The statutory guidance is long, but these are the conditions that most often catch new boarders out. Use it as a checklist before you apply.
- A room for each dog. Each dog, or each household's dogs, needs a designated room with a full-height door that latches shut and a secure window.
- Written consent to mix dogs. Dogs from different households can only board together with the written consent of every owner, after a documented trial session.
- Not routinely left alone. Dogs must not be routinely left alone for more than 3 hours in any 24-hour period.
- Careful crate use. Crates aren't banned, but a dog must not be confined in one for longer than 3 hours in any 24 hours, and only if it's used to a crate or the owner consents.
- Daily exercise. At least once a day, and no more than 6 dogs walked at once.
- Vaccinations. Up-to-date records for canine parvovirus, distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and leptospirosis. Primary courses must be finished at least 2 weeks before boarding.
- A register. Arrival and departure dates, microchip number, owner and emergency contacts, vet and insurance details, medical and behavioural history, diet and consent forms. Keep records for at least 3 years.
- ID tags. Each dog wears a tag with your name and contact details when out of the house.
- Emergency planning. A written emergency plan, at least one working smoke detector on every floor, a carbon monoxide detector, and a key holder who can get there within 30 minutes.
- Suitable spaces only. No boarding in outbuildings, cages or runs, and not in garages, sheds, conservatories, cellars or lofts unless they've been converted to a standard fit for people to live in.
- No bitches in season alongside dogs from other households.
Your licence will also state the maximum number of dogs you can board. Taking more than that is a breach.
How do star ratings and licence length work?
Councils give each licensed business a star rating. To reach 4 or 5 stars, you need to meet all the required higher standards plus at least 50% of the optional higher standards. Examples of higher standards in the guidance include exercising dogs at least twice a day and an overnight trial stay before any booking longer than 3 nights.
Higher ratings matter for your costs. GOV.UK says licences are valid for 1, 2 or 3 years, and businesses meeting the higher standards get a 2 or 3 year licence instead of a 1 year one, which lowers the cost over time. A good rating is also something owners can understand at a glance.
How do I apply for a home boarding licence?
- Read the guidance. Start with the GOV.UK home boarding statutory guidance, so you know the standards before the inspector does.
- Contact your council. Applications go to your local council's licensing team. Each council sets its own fees and licence length.
- Get your paperwork ready. Written policies, your emergency plan, a register template, consent forms and a process for trial sessions.
- Prepare for the inspection. The council inspects your home before granting a licence and may inspect again later.
- Display and advertise properly. Display your licence at home and show your licence number in any advertising, including online listings.
You can't get a licence if you've committed an animal welfare offence, or if you've been banned from activities such as boarding cats or dogs.
What happens if I board dogs without a licence?
GOV.UK says that providing or arranging boarding without a licence, or breaking your licence conditions, can lead to an unlimited fine or up to 6 months in prison. Your licence can be revoked if you stop or delay an inspection, and you can be banned from running an animal boarding business.
Boarding in Wiltshire
If you're local to us, Wiltshire Council's animal licensing page adds some useful detail:
- Each dog must be able to have its own designated room. Bedrooms can be used, as long as they aren't occupied by children under 16.
- No more than 6 dogs can be walked by one person at a time.
- A dog crèche can run from 7am to 7pm. Looking after dogs outside those hours needs a home boarding or kennels licence.
- Inspections take around 1 to 2 hours, and licensed host families get at least one unannounced inspection during their licence.
- You can appeal your star rating within 21 days of it being issued.
Fees are on the council's separate animal fees and charges page.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for anyone in England who boards, or wants to board, other people's dogs in their own home: sitters adding overnight stays, walkers expanding their services, and people who've started looking after dogs for friends of friends and now charge for it. The rules are different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with your council if you're outside England. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Your council's licensing team has the final say.
Ready to grow your boarding business?
Once you're licensed, the next job is finding owners who need you. My Pet Pal helps local pet owners find and book trusted providers, and gives you the tools to run your business: bookings, card payments through Stripe, automatic receipts and recurring care plans. Providers also get 10% off cover with our partner Pet Business Insurance UK.
Remember to include your licence number in your listing. Then sign up free at my-petpal.com/providersignup and start getting found by owners near you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to look after a friend's dog at home?
The licence applies when home boarding is carried out as a business. Councils consider whether you make a profit or earn any fee or commission, along with HMRC's badges of trade. The statutory guidance says a licence is not required if your trading income is below the HMRC trading allowance, which is currently up to £1,000 a year. If you're unsure, ask your council's licensing team.
Do dog sitters need a licence?
No, not if they look after the dog in its own home. The statutory guidance for England says dog sitters who care for a dog in its normal residence don't need a home boarding licence. The licence covers looking after other people's dogs in your home.
How long does a home boarding licence last?
Licences in England are valid for 1, 2 or 3 years. Your council decides the length based on your star rating. Businesses that meet the higher standards get a 4 or 5 star rating and a 2 or 3 year licence, which lowers the cost.
How much does a home dog boarding licence cost?
Each council sets its own fee, so the cost varies across England. Check your council's animal licensing fees page before you apply. Re-inspections may be charged on top, and a longer licence from a higher star rating reduces how often you pay.
Can I board dogs from different households together?
Only with the written consent of every owner, and after a documented trial session. Without that consent, dogs from different households need their own designated rooms. Bitches in season must not be boarded with dogs from other households.
How do I find new boarding clients once I'm licensed?
Make sure your licence number appears in all your advertising, as GOV.UK requires, then list your service where local owners are looking. On My Pet Pal, providers can sign up free at my-petpal.com/providersignup to get found by local owners and manage bookings and card payments in one place.