Dog boarding license requirements in New York

What New York law says about licensing a boarding kennel or daycare, pets nobody picks up, and rabies. Checked November 2, 2026.

Kennel license

No state license

No state license. Check with your county or city.

Pets nobody picks up

Covers kennels

Send a registered letter giving 10 days to pick up (20 days if no end date was set). Then you may deliver the pet to an SPCA, humane society or pound, and must tell the owner by registered letter that same day.

Rabies

Required

Dogs must be vaccinated by 4 months of age.

Bill A9123 would create a state boarding kennel license; it was in Assembly committee as of 2026-11-02.

Sources: N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 331 N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 332 N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2141 A9123 (2025)

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.

New York and its neighbors

State Kennel license Pets nobody picks up Rabies
New York No state license Covers kennels Required
Connecticut State license Covers kennels Required
Massachusetts State license Vets only Required
New Jersey State license Covers kennels Required
Pennsylvania State license Covers kennels Required
Vermont No state license Covers kennels Required

The state is one of four permissions you need.

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