Animal Welfare Regulations
New animal welfare regulations came into force on 1 October 2018, affecting businesses or individuals who want to apply or renew an animal boarding licence.
Before submitting an application, please read our information explaining the new regulations and the Government's guide on how to comply with the regulations.
View information on the Animal Welfare Regulations
You must have a licence from us to run a boarding kennel or cattery.
Before applying for an animal boarding licence, we advise you to check whether your premises requires planning/environmental permissions before being considered as a boarding establishment. You should also read the council's licence conditions before making your application to understand the requirements you must comply with - in particular, the condition which prohibits dogs from different households/owners being boarded together.
Download the Licence Conditions
Boarding establishments often generate noise and odour - and risk enforcement action by our environmental protection team under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Contact our environmental protection team (EPT@rugby.gov.uk) to discuss your premises and find out what steps you can take to minimise noise and odour.
Your premises may also need planning consent in order to operate legally as a boarding establishment. Discuss your business plan with our planning team (planning@rugby.gov.uk) to check whether you need permission to run a boarding establishment at your premises.
By carrying out these checks before applying for an animal boarding licence, you increase the chances of your application being successful.