Home Dog Boarding Licences

What is Home Dog Boarding? 

Home dog boarding is defined as “Providing housing to other people’s dogs at your home for day and overnight stays”. This must be a domestic home without outdoor kennels.

Do I need a licence? 

According to Government guidelines, “All dog boarding activities need a licence if they are carried out as a commercial business”.

Although many small operators do not consider themselves a commercial business, if you earn a commission or fee or makes a profit out of the activity, you are considered a business.

If you earn less than £1,000 per year from your home boarding, you may be exempt from licencing requirements, but it is always advisable to check with your local council.

What happens if I don’t have a licence? 

You can be prosecuted and sentenced to up to 3 months in prison and fined up to £500.

How do I obtain a licence? 

You still need to apply for a licence even if you’re looking after a small number of animals in your own home. Contact your local council authority to apply for a licence before you start operating your dog boarding business. You must not trade until your licence has been approved and issued following a thorough home check.

For more information visit the government website

How can we help

Our team of friendly experts will find the right insurance to suit your business needs once you have confirmed you are licenced. Cliverton’s policy wording states “all businesses’ must be run in lawful manner and comply with all relevant legal requirements”.

This means that before you can take out a policy with us, and at each renewal we will check that you have a valid licence. If you do not have a licence or your licence has expired, unfortunately, we will not be able to offer you insurance cover.

Please note there is no requirement for a licence in Northern Ireland.