What New Jersey law says about licensing a boarding kennel or daycare, pets nobody picks up, and rabies. Checked November 2, 2026.
State license
State law requires a kennel license from your town clerk, with local health approval: $10 for 10 or fewer dogs, $25 for more. Your local health department inspects under state sanitation rules.
Covers kennels
A pet not picked up within 72 hours of its last boarding day is unretrieved; send a certified letter, return receipt requested, then wait at least 4 days after the owner signs or refuses it. Keep a record of the date, method and recipient.
Required
A dog license needs proof of a current rabies shot.
Text was read on animallaw.info and FindLaw, not the official code.
Sources: N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.8 (dog laws) N.J.S.A. 45:16-15 N.J.S.A. 45:16-14
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | State license | Covers kennels | Required |
| Delaware | No state license | No rule found | Required |
| New York | No state license | Covers kennels | Required |
| Pennsylvania | State license | Covers kennels | Required |
Zoning, your county or city, and the fire marshal come too. The Opening Kit walks you through all of them, with the questions to ask each office, then insurance, policies, prices and your first twenty clients.
$99
Eleven chapters, plus three free months of Goodstay from the day you open
Opening in New Jersey? See the kit