Renfrewshire Council

Legislation

Establishments boarding animals as a business (including private dwellings) are subject to the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

The Act requires such establishments to be licensed by the local authority.

For the purpose of this Act the keeping of such establishments is defined as the carrying on at any premises, including a private dwelling, of a business providing accommodation for other people's cats and dogs.

A licence is granted at the discretion of the local authority who may take into account the suitability of the accommodation, whether the animals are well fed, exercised and protected from disease and fire.

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.

Please refer to our Home Boarding of Dogs and Commercial Day Care of Dogs web pages for separate guidance.

How to apply for a licence

Applicants should complete the application form which is available below. On request an application form will be forwarded to the applicant for completion by post.

On receipt of the application form the council will arrange for an officer to carry out an inspection of the premises to ensure its suitability for housing animals.

A licence may or may not be issued dependent on the findings of the inspection.

• Refer to the Animal Licence Advice and Guidance below for required evidence/information.
• Please refer to the fees and charges page for current cost of a licence.
• You must contact us immediately with any changes of circumstances.

Applications forms can be found in the 'related content'.

Conditions of licence

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health website has published model terms and conditions. Please refer to the Model Conditions. 

The licence lasts for one year. The onus is on the licence holder to apply for a renewal of the licence in good time, you will not receive any reminder from the Council. Please apply for your following year licence by 30 September to allow our Service time to process the new licence.

If you are refused a licence

Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence, or by any conditions to which a licence is subject, may appeal to a Sheriff who may give such directions regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.

Inspections

Inspections may be carried out annually by a Public Health Enforcement Officer (Environmental Health).

Register of animal boarding licence holders