Animal activity licence: the complete guide (England)
If you run a pet-care business in England, you may need an animal activity licence from your local council. This guide pulls the whole picture together in plain terms: what the licence is, which activities need one, who is exempt, what the council inspects, how star ratings and costs work, and how to apply with the right documents.
What is an animal activity licence?
It is a licence issued by your local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The Regulations set national welfare conditions for several pet-care activities, and your council inspects your premises against them before granting a licence valid for one, two or three years.
Which pet-care activities need one?
The boarding activities we cover are:
- Home boarding for dogs: boarding dogs overnight in your own home.
- Dog day care: daytime care for dogs at premises that are not their home.
- Boarding kennels for dogs: overnight boarding in purpose-built kennels.
- Cat boarding (a cattery): boarding cats in cattery units.
Who needs a licence, and who is exempt
You need a licence if you carry out the activity as a commercial business. If your trading income stays below the HMRC £1,000 trading allowance you may be exempt, but the council decides, and earning more does not automatically make you a business. Looking after an animal in its own owner’s home (sitting) is not licensable.
What the council inspects
Every activity must meet the general conditions in Schedule 2 (records, staffing and competence, a suitable environment, diet, behaviour and training, handling, disease control, and emergencies) plus the conditions specific to that activity. In practice that means a set of written procedures and records, a suitable premises, and a vet you are registered with.
Star ratings and how long the licence lasts
Licensed businesses receive a star rating from one to five. Meeting only the minimum standards gives a lower rating and a shorter licence; meeting the higher standards as well earns four or five stars, a longer two or three year licence, and a lower long-run cost. We explain this in detail in the star rating guide.
What it costs, and the penalty for not having one
Council fees vary widely and are separate from any help you buy with your documents; see the cost guide. Operating without a licence is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine and/or up to six months in prison.
How to apply
Choose your activity, complete your council’s application form, pay the fee, prepare the written procedures and records the conditions require, and book your inspection. The documents are the slow part, so PetApproved builds the whole written pack for your activity from a short questionnaire, mapped to each licence condition, ready to submit.
Frequently asked
Is one licence enough if I do more than one activity?
Each licensable activity has its own conditions, and your council will tell you how it licenses combined activities. Our packs are produced per activity so each is covered properly.
Does this guide apply outside England?
No. It covers the England-only 2018 Regulations. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes.
How long does getting licensed take?
It depends on your council’s inspection schedule. The part you control, the written documents, can be ready in about fifteen minutes with PetApproved.