In short: Most UK pet sitting needs no licence. Dog walking, drop-in visits and house sitting at the owner's home are all unlicensed. The exception is home boarding: if you board dogs in your own home as a business activity in England, you are legally required to hold an Animal Activity Licence from your local council. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate rules.
If you are weighing up pet sitting as a way to earn, the licensing question is the first real barrier most people hit. The good news is that it only applies to one service, and the rules are clearer than the conflicting advice online suggests. This guide sets out exactly when you need a licence, what it costs, and the other checks owners look for.
When you do not need a licence
The majority of pet sitting services in the UK require no licence at all. You can offer the following without any council permission:
- Dog walking, including group walks.
- Drop-in visits to feed, toilet and check on a pet in the owner's home.
- House sitting, where you stay at the owner's property and care for the pet there.
- Daytime dog walking and pet visits generally.
These are the fastest services to start with, because there is no application to wait on. They are also the easiest to fill bookings on, since owners need regular walkers and visits far more often than overnight care. Many sitters start here, build reviews, and only add boarding later. See our guide to
how much pet sitters earn in the UK for what each service pays.
When you do need a licence: home boarding in England
If you plan to board dogs overnight in your own home in England, and you do so for payment with a view to profit, you are legally required to hold an Animal Activity Licence. This sits under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
The three-dog myth
A widespread belief is that you can board up to three dogs without a licence. This is not how the rules work. The trigger is whether you are boarding as a
business activity, not how many animals you keep. If you take dogs into your home for payment with the intention of making a profit, it is licensable regardless of the number. There is no small-scale or occasional exemption. If you are unsure whether your activity counts, your local council's licensing team will tell you.
What the licence involves
The licence requires a home inspection. A council officer, often with a vet, checks that your property meets the welfare standards in the regulations: suitable space, temperature, supervision, fire safety, and procedures for the animals in your care. Premises are given a star rating, and your rating affects how long the licence lasts.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|
| Application fee | Roughly £100 to £300, set by your council, sometimes plus an inspection fee |
| Inspection | A welfare and safety check of your home, often with a vet present |
| Licence length | One to three years, depending on your star rating |
| Where to apply | Your local council's animal licensing team |
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The 2018 regulations apply to England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each license animal boarding under their own legislation, with different procedures and fees. If you are outside England, contact your local authority directly for the rules that apply to you. The principle is the same everywhere: boarding for profit is a licensed activity.
What about cats and daycare?
Home boarding for cats may also be licensable depending on how your council interprets the rules, and daycare, where dogs spend the day at your home, can fall under the same regime. Confirm the position with your council before you advertise either.
DBS checks: not required, but worth it
A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is not a legal requirement for pet sitters. It is one of the most effective ways to stand out to owners, because it shows you have nothing to hide.
A Basic DBS reveals any unspent criminal convictions and costs £18 through the government's own service at GOV.UK. Some professional bodies require registered members to hold a current check as a condition of membership, which gives you a listing owners specifically search for. On Petme, sitters also complete identity verification before their profile goes live, which is a separate layer of trust on top of any DBS you choose to obtain.
Insurance: not required, but strongly advised
You are not legally obliged to hold insurance to work as a pet sitter, but boarding animals without it exposes you to real financial risk. The two policies that matter most are:
- Public liability insurance, which covers you if a pet in your care injures someone or damages property.
- Care, Custody and Control cover, which covers vet costs if a pet falls ill or is injured while in your care.
Specialist UK pet business insurers offer combined policies designed for sitters and dog walkers, often from around £60 to £90 a year. If you hold clients' keys, key cover is worth adding. Separately, every booking on Petme is backed by a Protection Plan that covers eligible vet expenses up to £20,000, which sits alongside your own policy rather than replacing it.
Your route to boarding legally
If you want to board, the order is simple: confirm the licensing position with your council, apply for and pass the Animal Activity Licence if you are in England, arrange your insurance, and then list your service. Skipping the licence is a criminal offence and can void your insurance, so it is not a corner worth cutting.
Once you are set up, you can
become a pet sitter in the UK with Petme and start taking boarding requests, or browse everything
Petme offers across the UK. For the wider picture, our guide to
how to become a pet sitter in the UK covers services, profiles and platforms, and our
self-employed pet sitter tax guide covers what to declare to HMRC.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to be a pet sitter in the UK?
Not for most services. Dog walking, drop-in visits and house sitting at the owner's home need no licence. A licence is required only if you board animals in your own home as a business activity in England, where you must hold an Animal Activity Licence from your local council. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Is home boarding a business activity if I only do it occasionally?
In England, if you board dogs in your own home for payment with a view to profit, it counts as a licensable business activity under the 2018 regulations. There is no exemption for doing it part time or occasionally. The common belief that you can board up to three dogs without a licence is a misconception. Check with your council before you advertise.
How much does a home boarding licence cost in the UK?
Application fees are set by each local council and typically run from about £100 to £300, sometimes more with the inspection fee added. The licence lasts one to three years depending on the star rating your premises receive at inspection, so a higher welfare standard means you renew less often.
Do I need a DBS check to be a pet sitter?
No, a DBS check is not legally required for pet sitters. It is strongly recommended because it reassures owners. A Basic DBS costs £18 through the government's own service and shows any unspent convictions. Some professional bodies require members to hold one.
What insurance do I need for home boarding?
You are not legally required to hold insurance, but operating without it is a serious risk. Public liability cover and Care, Custody and Control cover are the two that matter most for boarding. On Petme, every booking is additionally backed by a Protection Plan covering eligible vet costs up to £20,000, but that does not replace your own policy.
Does cat boarding need a licence too?
It can. Whether home boarding for cats is licensable depends on how your local council interprets the regulations, and some treat cat boarding differently from dog boarding. Always confirm the position with your own council before advertising overnight cat care.
What happens if I board dogs without a licence?
Boarding animals commercially without a required licence is a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare regulations and can lead to prosecution and fines. It can also invalidate your insurance. If you plan to board, get licensed first, then list your service.
