Animal Activity Licence (AAL)

Anyone in England boarding dogs commercially for more than 14 days in a 12-month period must hold an AAL. The licence is granted by the local authority for the operator’s premises, lasts up to three years (subject to the star rating awarded), and must be renewed before expiry. Operating without one is a criminal offence.

Each licence covers a specific set of activities — boarding in kennels, home boarding, dog day care, breeding, hiring out, exhibiting, and selling animals as pets. An operator can hold a licence for one or more of these. We publish the activity codes alongside the licence so you can see exactly what each operator is licensed for.

Scotland and Wales operate under separate but broadly equivalent frameworks. Northern Ireland licensing varies by district council.