Boarding for cats or dogs (kennels, catteries, doggy day care and home boarders)

Do I need an animal boarding licence?

If you provide or arrange for the provision of accommodation for other people’s dogs or cats in the course of a business as defined in The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 by:

1. Providing boarding for cats
2. Providing boarding in kennels for dogs
3. Providing home boarding for dogs or
4. Providing day care for dogs

You will be required to obtain an animal activity licence from Salford City Council. The requirement also applies to dog and cat sitting services operating in Salford that are organised in a business manner.

Conditions

In order to obtain an animal activity licence, you need to ensure that you meet the specific licence conditions which relate to that activity. The conditions relating to animal boarding can be found in the legislation detailed above and DEFRA has produced several guidance notes for animal boarders, to assist licence holders comply. The links are detailed below and a PDF version of each document is listed at the bottom of this page:

• guidance notes for conditions for providing boarding in kennels for dogs
• guidance notes for conditions for providing boarding for cats
• guidance notes for conditions for providing day care for dogs
• guidance notes for conditions for providing home boarding for dogs

Environmental health officers will inspect the premises to check compliance with the legislation, licence conditions and assess the welfare of the animals to ensure they have the following:

• a suitable environment/place to live
• a suitable diet including fresh water
• the ability to exhibit normal behaviour
• housed, as appropriate, either with or apart from other animals
• protection from and treatment of pain, suffering, injury or disease 

As well as checking general health and safety requirements (in non-domestic premises).

Fees

The fees for boarding cats or dogs varies dependant on the type of premises, number of animals boarded and the activities undertaken. They are payable in two parts: 

• Application fee - this should be submitted with your application forms (non refundable). In accordance with DEFRA guidance, to ensure that applications are processed and premises inspected before licences expire, application and fees to renew animal activity licences should be submitted at least ten weeks before the current licence expires. If applications and fees are received with less than ten weeks left on the licence, there may not be sufficient time to process the application and inspect the premises before the licence expires. Please be aware that businesses will not be permitted to trade unless a valid licence is held. If renewal applications are submitted after the expiry date there will be an interim period where trade is not permitted until a new licence has been issued. You should also be aware that failure to apply and pay for the renewal within time of the current licence, will result in having to apply as a ‘new’ business and the higher application and grant fees will apply.

Please be aware that if you are applying for more than one licensable activity eg a pet shop and boarding of dogs then the higher application fee will apply plus an additional £79 for every other activity applied for.  

If you are applying for boarding and day care at home then this is classed as home boarding and a single activity only need be applied for.

• Grant fee - once the inspection has been carried out and the inspecting officer has determined the star rating and duration of the licence, you will be advised of the grant fee (non-refundable)

The details below summarise the fees:

Home boarding of dogs AND day care (less than three dogs)

Application fees

• New: £148
• Renewal: £86

In addition: Grant fee (after inspection)

Star re-rating request

£79 plus the grant fee

Home boarding of dogs AND day care (three to six dogs)

Application fees

• New: £199
• Renewal: £136

Star re-rating request

£79 plus the grant fee

Boarding for cats OR boarding in kennels for dogs

Application fees

In addition: Grant fee (after inspection)

Star re-rating request

£79 plus the grant fee

Boarding for cats AND boarding in kennels for dogs

Application fees

In addition: Grant fee (after inspection)

Star re-rating request

£79 plus the grant fee

Providing day care for dogs (crèche)

Application fees

• New: £340
• Renewal: £236

In addition: Grant fee (after inspection)

Star re-rating request

£79 plus the grant fee

How to apply

Before you apply you should be fully familiar with the specific licence conditions and be confident in meeting them.

If you wish to apply for a new animal boarding activity licence or renew your current licence, you need to complete:

1. Section 1;
2. Main application form; AND
3. Section 10

Please download each of these forms, complete the relevant sections and return the forms, along with the necessary supporting documentation to Environmental Health. This can be emailed to dogwardens@salford.gov.uk. Alternatively the application forms can be posted to Environmental Health, Place Directorate, Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Salford, M27 5FJ Once fees have been confirmed, a member of the team will contact you to take payment.

Will my rating be published?

Yes. Once you have been inspected and the officer has determined your star rating, this will be published on our website. The register shows your business name, business address (although if you trade from a domestic premises this is not disclosed), the type(s) of licence(s) you hold and the star rating.

This page was last updated on 12 May 2022