Dog Kennel Requirements: UK Welfare Standards and Licensing Explained

Short answer: every dog owner in the UK has a legal duty to meet their dog’s welfare needs, including a suitable place to live. Kennels used by commercial boarding businesses must also meet specific licensing standards, such as a minimum sleeping area. Even if you don’t need a licence, those standards are a useful benchmark for a home kennel.

Your legal duty of care

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, anyone responsible for a dog must take reasonable steps to meet its welfare needs. These are often summarised as five needs:

• A suitable environment – somewhere safe, clean and sheltered to live.
• A suitable diet – including constant access to fresh water.
• The ability to behave normally – room to move, play, stretch and rest.
• Appropriate company – to be housed with, or apart from, other animals as suits the dog.
• Protection from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

For an outdoor kennel, that means a dry, draught-free sleeping area, shelter from heat and cold, enough space and a secure run.

Do I need a licence for a dog kennel?

Not for your own dogs at home. A licence is needed when boarding dogs is run as a commercial business. In England this is covered by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and local councils issue the licences. Scotland and Wales have their own rules, and requirements can vary, so check with your local council if you plan to board other people’s dogs.

What standards must licensed boarding kennels meet?

The 2018 Regulations and the government’s statutory guidance for dog kennel boarding in England set out requirements including:

• Sleeping area: a floor area at least twice the area the dog needs to lie flat, and at least 1.9 square metres for kennels built after the Regulations came into force.
• Constant access to the sleeping area, with a clean, comfortable and warm place to rest.
• Covered run: each exercise run must have a safe, secure, waterproof roof over at least half its area.
• Headroom: the guidance expects a minimum height of 1.8 metres so staff can clean properly.
• Secure mesh: square mesh no larger than 50 x 50 mm, so dogs can’t escape or injure themselves.

These are summaries. Always check the full Regulations and your local council’s conditions.

A practical checklist for any outdoor kennel

• Size: can your dog stand up, turn round and lie stretched out in the sleeping area, with space to move in the run? See our kennel size guide.
• Shelter: is the sleeping area dry, draught-free and raised off cold ground?
• Temperature: is it insulated enough for winter and shaded or ventilated for summer? Our insulated kennels are built for year-round use.
• Security: are doors lockable and is the run mesh strong and closely spaced?
• Hygiene: can the kennel be cleaned thoroughly and easily?
• Durability: will the materials stand up to chewing and the British weather?

How our kennels are designed

Our kennels and runs are built with approximately 6ft (1.8m) caging, heavy-duty galvanised run panels with a 5cm gap, lockable doors and pressure-treated timber or recyclable WPC. Our Eco Thermal range adds cavity-wall insulation and an insulated Kingspan roof. We also build kennels for commercial users, including police forces, rescue charities and estates, and can design bespoke kennels to meet specific licensing requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to keep a dog in an outdoor kennel?

Yes, provided the kennel and your care meet the dog’s welfare needs under the Animal Welfare Act 2006: suitable shelter, space, food, water, company and protection from harm.

What is the minimum kennel size in the UK?

There’s no single legal minimum for pet owners. For licensed boarding kennels in England, newly built sleeping areas must be at least 1.9 square metres and at least twice the space the dog needs to lie flat.

Do I need planning permission for a dog kennel?

Most domestic kennels don’t need planning permission, but it can depend on size, location and use. Check with your local council if you’re unsure.