Home boarding licence in Bristol

Start with Bristol City Council

Bristol City Council’s animal boarding licence page says you need a licence to board dogs overnight in your own home. At the time of writing (October 2026), it asks you to contact the council first, then apply online through GOV.UK or with the council’s own form.

Go to Bristol City Council’s licensing page

Council processes, forms and fees change, so always check the council’s own page. We’re not connected to Bristol City Council.

What Defra’s guidance asks for

Defra publishes guidance for councils in England on home boarding licences. A few of the main points:

• A written emergency plan, including where the dogs would go if your home became unusable.
• A vet you’re registered with, and a preventative healthcare plan agreed with them.
• Written procedures for feeding, cleaning, transport, disease prevention, monitoring health and welfare, and what you’d do if a dog died or escaped.
• A documented trial session so dogs can get used to each other, including your own dogs, before they board.
• A register for every dog, with records kept for at least 3 years.

See our free help page for more, or try the free readiness check.

Source: Defra home boarding guidance

Need the paperwork for your Bristol application?

We write draft licence packs for home boarders across England, built around your own home, dogs and routine. Tell us in the questionnaire that you’re applying to Bristol City Council, and we’ll check your pack against its published checklist where we can get one. See a sample pack.