How to check a kennel is licensed

Anyone boarding dogs or cats as a business needs a licence from their local council, and that includes people who board dogs in their own home. Checking takes a few minutes and is the single most useful thing you can do before booking.

Why it matters

A licence means the council has inspected the premises and is satisfied the business meets the legal welfare standards, from space and hygiene to emergency plans. Licensed businesses are inspected again, including unannounced visits in England. An unlicensed boarder has had none of these checks, and you have far less recourse if something goes wrong.

Step 1: Ask for the licence details

Ask for the licence number, the name of the licence holder, the issuing council and, in England, the star rating and expiry date. Under the general conditions in the 2018 Regulations, licence holders in England must show their name and licence number clearly on any website they use for the business, and display a copy of the licence at the premises. A business that is vague or reluctant here is a warning sign.

Step 2: Find it on KennelCheck

Search by postcode or town, or browse by council. Each listing shows the licence number, star rating and expiry date exactly as published by the council, plus a link to the council's own register. For home boarders we show only the area, not names or addresses, so match on the licence number.

Not finding a business does not mean it is unlicensed. We do not yet cover every council, and some councils do not publish their registers online.

Step 3: Check the council's own register

The council is the authority. Find the council that covers the business's address (use GOV.UK's council finder if unsure), then look on its website for "animal licensing" or "animal activity licence register". Check that:

• the licence number and holder match what you were told;
• the licensed activity matches the service: boarding in kennels, home boarding, day care or cat boarding are separate activities;
• the star rating matches (England);
• the licence has not expired.

If the register is not online, or looks out of date, phone or email the licensing team and ask them to confirm.

Step 4: Check the dates

In England licences last 1, 2 or 3 years depending on the star rating. Scotland and Wales have different arrangements; some councils there issue licences that run to the end of each calendar year. If a licence is about to expire around your trip, ask whether the renewal has been applied for. A business cannot simply carry on once a licence has lapsed.

Step 5: Look at the licence conditions

Every licence carries conditions, most importantly the maximum number of animals. If you visit and see far more dogs than the licence allows, walk away and tell the council.

Warning signs of an unlicensed boarder

• Cannot or will not give a licence number.
• Advertises only through social media or classified sites with no business details.
• Claims a licence is "not needed" because it is "only a few dogs" or "just at home". Home boarding as a business needs a licence.
• Will not let you visit.
• Prices far below everyone else nearby.

What to do if you suspect a problem

Contact the council's licensing or animal welfare team with as much detail as you can. If you believe an animal is in immediate danger, contact the RSPCA in England and Wales or the Scottish SPCA in Scotland.

Want to understand the stars once you have found the licence? Read what kennel star ratings mean.

Find a licensed boarder near you: search by postcode or town or browse by council.

Last reviewed 27 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check with your council.