Licence - animal boarding establishment

What is an animal boarding establishment licence?

If you wish to run a cattery or kennels in the Maidstone Borough, you need a licence from Maidstone Borough Council. The number and species of animal you wish to cater for will be specified as a condition on your licence.

You must have the appropriate Planning Consents or Change of Use Certificate for your premises to run an animal boarding establishment. Obtaining these can be a long process: we will not be able to process your application without copies of the appropriate planning permission.

Legal Regulations

The operation of animal boarding establishments is regulated under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

Am I eligible?

You must never have been disqualified from:

• Keeping an animal boarding establishment
• Keeping a pet shop under the Pet Animals Act 1951
• Having custody of animals under the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
• Keeping or owning animals, or managing the care, transport or sale of animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Keeping or owning animals, or managing the care, transport or sale of animals under the Animal Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

How much do licences cost?

The licence fee for animal boarding establishments is the same for new applications and renewals, and for significant changes to your business.

The fee varies depending on the species and the number of animals your business caters for. The same licence fee applies for a new licence, a renewal, or a change of licence. Please see the tariff below:

How do I apply?

As part of your application, we need to see:

• A copy of your Public Liability Insurance, to the value of at least £1 million;
• A copy of the appropriate insurance to cover any animals you intend to board;
• A detailed plan of your premises including all relevant features, such as emergency access, any public areas, animal accommodation, exercise areas, water and electricity access etc., and storage areas. If you need any advice on preparing these plans, please contact us.
• A copy of your planning consents.

If you employ anyone in your business, including volunteers, you must also obtain appropriate Employer’s Liability Insurance.

You can apply to run an animal boarding establishment online. 

You will be taken to an online payment facility at the end of your application to pay the appropriate fee. All of the above documents can be attached as scans/electronic copies, or you can post hard copies to:

The Licensing Team, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ.

Alternatively, please contact the Licensing Team on 01622 602727, and they will post you paper copies of the forms to fill in and return to us with a cheque for the appropriate fee. Please make cheques payable to Maidstone Borough Council.

How often do I have to renew my licence?

Animal Boarding Licences are renewable annually, with payment of the renewal fee. We will contact you in good time to arrange an inspection. We will post you the renewal form, or you can apply to renew your animal boarding licence online. You need to include the same documentation as above.

How do I apply to change my licence?

You can apply to change your animal boarding establishment licence online.

If you want to change the conditions of your licence, i.e., the species or number of animals you cater for, or change the layout of your premises, inspections will be necessary and fees will apply as for a new application. You may need to include the same documentation as above.

If you are only making minor administrative changes to your details, please contact us in the first instance, as there may be no charge.

Any substantial additions or changes to the layout of your premises may require planning permission. If this is so, we cannot proceed with your application unless a copy of the relevant consent is included.

What happens next?

Once everything has been received, applications take 30 calendar days to process. During this time, we recommend you stay in touch, as we may need further information from you. We will contact you within 3-8 days of receiving your application to arrange a pre-inspection visit, which will take place within 10 days of receipt.

In the interest of animal welfare and public safety,you may not operate your business until we have fully processed and granted your licence. Likewise, for applications to change or renew your licence, you may not consider your application successful until we confirm it.All inspections by a veterinary inspector and duly authorised Council personnel must be carried out in full before you can proceed.

How are animal boarding establishment licence applications considered?

Maidstone Borough Council must consider whether you are a suitable person to run the establishment and hold the licence. We will also need to make sure that:

• Any animals will be kept in suitable accommodation at all times. We will take into account the construction and facilities of your premises, and their appropriate maximum capacity, their cleanliness, temperature, lighting and ventilation;
• Suitable food, drink and bedding materials will be provided and animals will be exercised and visited regularly;
• Health precautions will be taken to control infectious or contagious diseases, and isolation facilities are in place;
• Adequate protection is provided to the animals in case of fire or other emergencies;
• A register is kept, detailing a description of all animals boarded, arrival and departure dates, and the contact details of the owner. The register must be available for inspection at any time by an Environmental Enforcement officer or veterinary professional.

What happens if there is a problem with my application?

If we refuse your application, you may be able to appeal. What happens if I want to dispute the outcome of my application? gives information and advice on this.

What do I do if I am concerned about an animal boarding establishment I have visited?

General information for dissatisfied customers of animal boarding establishments is available in the What happens if I want to dispute the outcome of my application? information sheet.

If you have seen something at an animal boarding establishment you have attended which gave you cause for concern over animal welfare or public safety please contact us immediately using the details to the right of the screen.