A licence is required for any premises where a person charges for providing temporary accommodation to other people's cats or dogs. Businesses that arrange for the provision of animal boarding, even if they do not board animals themselves, also require a licence, e.g. franchise holders. There are five categories of licence for animal boarding:

1. Boarding Kennels - commercial premises boarding dogs overnight in specific units designed for such purpose.
2. Catteries - commercial premises boarding cats overnight in specific units designed for such purpose.
3. Non-residential Dog Day Care Centres - commercial premises where dogs are looked after whilst owners are at work etc. and are not boarded overnight.
4. Home Boarding (Dogs) - Where dogs are kept in the domestic home of an individual(s) who charge for the service. This will include day care for dogs in a domestic home environment.
5. Home Boarding (Dogs) Arrangers - Where a company, franchise, individual or website takes a commission or fee to arrange boarding for a customer's dog at a satellite premises. Arrangers will often have a list of satellite premises on their books with which to place a dog. [Note that individual satellite premises may also require a licence if they take more than £1000 in any 12 month period, even if they are already listed on the arranger's licence].

Multiple activities Your business may include more than one of the above 4 categories. At the application stage, you may apply for a licence to cover multiple activities at a reduced rate, for example if your premises has both a commercial boarding kennels and a cattery.. However, remember that home boarders that also take dogs for day care require a single licence for home boarding only.

Planning Permission may be required for any of the above activities, even a home boarder if they wish to be licensed to board more than 4 dogs at a time. Please consult the Planning Department for further information.

A Boarding licence is not required for the boarding of other types of animal, only cats and dogs.

Each premises will be risk rated at inspection and will be given a star rating from 1 to 5, which will also determine whether the premises is granted a licence for 1, 2 or 3 years. An explanation of the star rating procedure can be viewed by clicking on the document at the side of this page.

To make an application, complete the online form (see link at the side of the page - you can register with our website or use the "Guest" button, which does not require you to sign in).

Please indicate which of the above four categories you are applying for when you complete the form (arrangers should complete a home boarding application but state that you are an arranger - you will be contacted following your application for a list of your satellite premises).

You may apply for more than one animal boarding category. However, if you apply for a licence for two activities, one of which is not listed on this page, you will need to complete an application form and pay a full fee for both, for example, if you wish to apply for a licence to board dogs at home and to breed dogs.

Please note that an application for a licence renewal must be received more than 10 weeks before the current licence expires. Failure to do so may result in the licence not being renewed in time and, thus a period where the business can not operate.

Please contact us on 01962 848097 (or email eh@winchester.gov.uk ) if you have any queries.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force on 1st October 2018. You must comply with all of the minimum standards in the guidance below to achieve a licence and as well as a physical inspection of the premises, evidence of all relevant paperwork and qualifications will need to be seen at your inspection;

1. Boarding Kennels
2. Catteries
3. Commercial Dog Day Care Centres
4. Home Boarding (including Arrangers) and Home Daycare (Dogs)

Click on the blue writing and it will link you to the appropriate website

We have produced a few sample documents for Home Boarders which you can find on the right hand side of the page. You do not have to produce your paperwork in this way but can use these documents as a starting point if you so wish but remember they must be adapted for your premises and situation. We hope they help.

The fees for Animal Licensing for 2024/25 (as revised in accordance with the Regulations) are:

• Boarding Kennels - £300
• Catteries - £300
• Commercial Dog Day Care Centres - £300
• Home Boarding, including day care at home - £258
• Home Boarding Arrangers - £258 (this fee covers the application for the arranger and a single satellite premises. The arranger will subsequently pay £80 for each satellite premises on their list. All satellite premises within the District will need to be inspected. Where a satellite premises has already been inspected because it requires its own licence, the arranger will pay £20 to have this premises on their list).

Note that the fees for a business that includes more than one of the above categories will be £300.

Note that, should the licensee apply for a reinspection, this must be done in writing at any time, setting out the work that has been completed and the reasons for the reinspection. The full fee is payable for a reinspection.

 

Method of Payment:

When you have finished filling in the form, you will be taken to a payment screen so have your card details ready. Payment must be made at the same time as you complete the form.

Note: If you have trouble paying for your licence application, please contact us on 01962 848097

Appointed veterinary surgeons and practitioners, appropriately qualified local authority officers, or other competent persons authorised by the local authority may inspect licensed premises and any animals at such premises at any reasonable time.

There will normally only be one inspection for each licence granted but further inspections may be made to check that licence conditions have been complied with, if a complaint is received about the premises, or if there is any concern about the condition of the premises, or the welfare of an animal at the premises.

Unlicensed premises may also be inspected in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

A licence will be refused;

• If the applicant is under 18.
• If the applicant has been disqualified from holding an animal licence or keeping an animal, or has had a licence revoked under section 15 of the Regulations.
• If conditions of the licence are not met.

The applicant may appeal to a First tier Tribunal if the Council refuses to grant or renew a licence

A licence may be varied, suspended or revoked by the Council for the following reasons;

• the licence conditions are not being complied with
• there has been a breach of the Regulations
• the information supplied by the licensee is false or misleading, or
• it is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal.

Any significant change to the premises may require a variation to your licence. The licensee may request a variation or the Council can impose one. This will involve a small charge. Please contact us on eh@winchester.gov.uk if you think a variation may be needed.

The licensee may appeal to a First tier Tribunal if the Council has varied, suspended or revoked a licence.

 

There is a list on the right hand side of the page. The list is usually updated twice a year.