Boarding animals licences
The keeping of animal boarding establishments (catteries and kennels) is controlled by the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.
No person may keep a boarding establishment for animals without a licence from the council.
A licence may be issued if the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following Acts:
- The Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963
- The Pet Animals Act 1951
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934
The establishment must meet adequate animal health and welfare standards. Inspections are carried out on our behalf by animal health inspectors from the Corporation of London Veterinary Service.
The council may not license premises that may cause a nuisance to neighbours, for example due to excessive barking or smells.
Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to demonstrate:
- The animals will at all times be kept in accommodation suitable in respect of construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperatures, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness.
- Animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding materials, adequately exercised and (so far as is necessary) visited at suitable intervals.
- All reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread of infectious or contagious disease, including the provision of adequate isolation facilities.
- A register will be kept containing a description of any animal received into the establishment, the date of arrival and departure, and the name and address of the owner. The register will be available for inspection at all times.
A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds if those grounds are such that conditions were not suitable for the boarding of animals.
Each licence issued is subject to standard conditions that are imposed on all animal boarding establishments licensed by the council. In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to the applicants premises.
Download an Animal Boarding Licence application form 
(PDF: 107 Kb).
Your right of appeal
You can appeal a licence refusal or any conditions to which a licence is subject through a Magistrates' Court.
For further information
Contact the Corporation of London Veterinary Service for advice and information about animal health and welfare licensing requirements. Tel: 020 8897 6741
For an application form, further information about applying for a licence or to make a complaint about an establishment contact the Licensing Team
Tel: 020 8359 7995
Fax: 0870 889 6793
E-mail: licensingadmin@barnet.gov.uk
The Licensing Team deals with many of the licences that may be issued by the council. We can provide information and advice about applications, fees, how to apply, whether a licence is needed and how to advertise an application.
We can:
- provide application forms and printed advice.
- provide information about existing licences and current applications.
- receive representations either in favour of or against a licence application.
- deal with requests for a review of a licence in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.
- respond to complaints about licensed premises or premises trading without a licence.
