What Connecticut law says about licensing a boarding kennel or daycare, pets nobody picks up, and rabies. Checked November 2, 2026.
State license
The Department of Agriculture licenses commercial kennels that board or groom dogs or cats. The first fee is $400, the license runs about two years, you need local zoning sign-off, and the department may inspect at any time.
Covers kennels
A pet not picked up within 5 days of the scheduled date is abandoned; send notice by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and wait 10 days after the receipt comes back before transferring it to a qualifying rescue. You must post these rules and give boarders written notice of them.
Required
Dogs must be vaccinated at 12 to 14 weeks, with boosters after.
Text was read on FindLaw (current as of 2025-01-01), and it's unclear whether a daycare-only business counts as a commercial kennel.
Sources: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-344 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-70 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-339b
Facts, not legal advice. Laws change, and your county or city may have its own kennel permit: call them before you rely on any of this.
| State | Kennel license | Pets nobody picks up | Rabies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | State license | Covers kennels | Required |
| Massachusetts | State license | Vets only | Required |
| New York | No state license | Covers kennels | Required |
| Rhode Island | State license | Covers kennels | Required |
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