Animal boarding
You need a licence if you provide or arrange boarding for cats or dogs.
Licence fees
The fees for each licence come in 2 parts:
- part A – you’ll pay this when you submit your application form
- part B – you’ll need to pay this once we have approved the licence
Licences are for a period of 1, 2 or 3 years. You must apply at least 8 weeks in advance of opening for boarding.
Licence conditions
You must prove that you can meet the licence conditions. These include showing that the animals are:
- kept in suitable accommodation
- given adequate food, drink and bedding
- visited and exercised regularly
- protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
- protected in case of an emergency, for example a fire
- looked after by people trained to care for the animals
You’ll also need to:
- keep any records ready for inspection, for example a register of animals boarded including dates they arrived and left
- display the licence number in any advertising
- display the licence clearly on the premises
Star rating system
We will inspect your premises before granting you a licence. We may also conduct extra inspections after we have granted a licence.
We award a ‘star rating’ and give higher marks for high welfare standards and a history of compliance.
Our inspection officers will also be looking for:
- specialist knowledge of the species you are caring for
- measures that support the health, safety and wellbeing of the animals
Star ratings apply to:
- selling animals as pets
- providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
- hiring out horses
- breeding dogs
- keeping or training animals for exhibition
Planning permission
Ensure that you have or do not need planning permission to board animals. If you must do building work to house your animals then you are likely to need planning permission.
If you have so many animals that it is regarded that the nature of your home has changed to a home for dogs or cats rather than for people, we may require you to apply for planning permission for a change of use.
How to apply for a licence
You’ll need to download the application form and submit the application with the part A fee.
The part B fee is payable once we approve the licence.
If we refuse your application
We must refuse a licence if we believe that you cannot meet the licence conditions. A licence cannot be issued to anyone who is disqualified.
You have the right of appeal to a first-tier tribunal within 28 days of our decision notice.
If you disagree with your star rating
Firstly, speak to the inspecting officer. If you are still not satisfied then you can make a written appeal to us within 21 days of the licence being issued.
A manager with the licensing team will look at the appeal.
If you are still not happy with our decision following the appeal you can appeal to your local magistrates court.
Running a kennel or cattery
You will need a licence for animal boarding activities including:
- boarding for cats in a cattery
- boarding for dogs in kennels
Before applying please read the licence requirements and conditions for the activity you wish to licence:
- general licence conditions
- boarding for cats (see schedule 4, part 1)
- boarding for dogs in kennels (see schedule 4, part 2)
- cat boarding guidance
- dog boarding guidance
Apply for a new licence or renew a licence
You'll need to apply at least 8 weeks before:
- opening for boarding
- the expiry of a current licence
You’ll need the following to complete the application:
- a plan of the premises
- standard operating procedures
- emergency response plan
- infection control procedures
Although not always required we recommend that you also include:
- relevant qualifications
- insurance policy
- training records
- written permission from your landlord if you are not the property owner
- any other documents you think may be useful, for example internal photos of the property
- a current basic DBS
You’ll need to download our application form [doc] 91KB and send this back to us with either a cheque for the part A amount or a receipt showing you have made payment online.
There is a fee for this service.
Email the animal boarding application or renewal
Make an online payment
You’ll need a credit or debit card for this.
1. Select the button below and then follow the onscreen instructions
2. After receiving your payment receipt you’ll need to forward this email to licensing@arun.gov.uk
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Apply for a variation to an application
A variation is where you want to make an adjustment to the licence after we have granted it. . You’ll need to do this if the adjustment relates to the licence or if it relates to the premises or animals referred to in the licence.
There is a fee for this service.
To apply for a variation, you will need to give us the following information:
- existing licence number
- reasons for the variation
- copy of any plans if the variation relates to a change in layout or size of the premises
Select the button below to email us the details and we’ll then contact you to let you know what the fee will be and how you can make payment.
Apply to add an additional activity
If you already have a licence but want to expand your services you should apply to add an additional activity.
For example, if you have a licence for animal boarding and you now want to also breed animals you would apply to add an additional activity.
You’ll need to include:
- name and contact details
- licence number
- address
- the additional activity you want to add
- any plans or photos to support the additional activity
There is a fee for this service.
Once we have the details we will contact you to let you know how to make payment.
Apply for a rescore of your star rating
If you have made improvements which you think will improve your star rating then you can apply for a rescore.
Please note that the rescore could lead to us giving you a lower score.
There is a fee for this service.
You’ll need to include your:
- name and contact details
- licence number
- address
- what improvements you have made since the inspection
- any plans or photos to support the improvements
There is a fee for this service.
Once we have the details we will contact you to let you know how to make payment.
Apply to appeal your star rating
Firstly, speak to the inspecting officer. If you are still not satisfied then you can make a written appeal to us within 21 days of the date we granted the licence.
A manager with the licensing team will look at the appeal.
If you are still not happy with our decision following the appeal you can appeal to your local magistrates court.
There is a fee for this service.
Once we have the details we will contact you to let you know how to make payment.
Request a copy of your licence
If you have lost or damaged your licence you will need to apply for a replacement.
There is a fee for this service.
Make an online payment
You’ll need a credit or debit card for this.
1. Select the button below and then follow the onscreen instructions
2. After receiving your payment receipt you’ll need to forward this email to licensing@arun.gov.uk.
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You’ll need to include your:
- name and contact details
- licence number
- address