What Rhode Island law says about licensing a boarding kennel or daycare, pets nobody picks up, and rabies. Checked November 2, 2026.
State license
The Department of Environmental Management licenses kennels, including doggie daycare, for $50 a year. Your city or town council must approve the site, and you may need a local license too.
Covers kennels
A pet not picked up within 30 days of the scheduled date is abandoned; send notice by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and wait 10 days after the receipt returns before transferring it to a licensed Rhode Island rescue or shelter. You must post the procedure and give every customer written notice of it.
Required
Dogs must be vaccinated between 3 and 4 months of age.
A 2026-06-02 filing of the state care rules exists, but whether it is in force was not verified.
Sources: R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-19-6 R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-48-1 R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-31 DEM kennel application
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | State license | Covers kennels | Required |
| Connecticut | State license | Covers kennels | Required |
| Massachusetts | State license | Vets only | 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.
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