Not sure which kennel license applies to you? See the Maine Kennel License Guide.
Maine law requires a boarding kennel license for anyone keeping other people’s animals for a fee. The license comes from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Because boarding kennel licensing questions come up across Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, and the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, this page explains what triggers the requirement, what the license covers, and what happens if you operate without one.
You can read the full statute at legislature.maine.gov/statutes/7/title7sec3932.html.
What Is a Boarding Kennel
Section 3907 defines a boarding kennel as any place, building, tract of land, or abode where 3 or more privately owned companion animals are kept at any one time for their owners in return for a fee. It also includes any facility keeping 3 or more companion animals for training purposes for compensation. The trigger is accepting other people’s animals and charging for the service. It applies whether you operate from a dedicated commercial facility or your home.
License Fee and Renewal
The annual boarding kennel license fee is $125. The license expires December 31 each year. Operators must renew annually to stay in compliance. If you fail to renew within 30 days of expiration, a late fee equal to 50% of the required license fee applies. That late fee goes into the Animal Welfare Fund.
Advertising Requirements
A licensed boarding kennel must prominently display its state-issued license number in all print advertising. In addition to advertising, the license number must be provided directly to anyone boarding an animal at the facility. This gives pet owners a way to verify that a facility operates legally before leaving their animal there.
Notice of Fees and Services
Every boarding kennel must post a written notice on the premises listing all fees for boarding and any additional services offered. That notice must also be available upon request. It must also state the hours during which the owner or a responsible person is on the premises. This is a transparency requirement that protects both customers and the animals in their care.
Conditional Boarding Kennel License
New applicants who do not currently hold a valid license receive a conditional boarding kennel license first. That conditional license stays active until the kennel passes inspection under section 3936. If the kennel passes and meets all other conditions of licensure, the conditional license converts to a standard license. If the kennel cannot meet minimum standards within 6 months of the initial inspection, the department may revoke or suspend the conditional license through an administrative proceeding under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 5.
Inspections
The commissioner, a state humane agent, or a licensed veterinarian acting at the commissioner’s direction may enter a boarding kennel at any reasonable time to conduct examinations and tests for contagious or infectious diseases and to check overall compliance. If the facility also serves as a residence, inspectors must be escorted by the owner and are limited to the boarding kennel portions only.
When an inspection finds a violation, the department issues a written notice describing the problem, the required correction, and the deadline. The first follow-up inspection carries no fee. After that, two or more follow-up inspections in the same calendar year each trigger a fee equal to 50% of the original license fee.
Who Cannot Obtain a Boarding Kennel License
The department may not issue a boarding kennel license to anyone who, within the previous 10 years, has been convicted of murder, a Class A or Class B offense, or violations under Title 17-A chapters 9, 11, 12, or 13. Anyone convicted of criminal cruelty under Title 17, chapter 42, or adjudicated of a civil cruelty violation under chapter 739 within the same window is also ineligible. Out-of-state, provincial, and federal convictions for similar offenses apply equally.
Minimum Age of Transfer
Under 7§3938-A, a boarding kennel may not sell, give away, or transfer ownership of a dog or cat before its 56th day of life. Violating this rule is a civil violation. Fines range from $50 to $200 per animal.
Penalties for Operating Without a License
Operating a boarding kennel without a valid license is a civil violation under 7§3938. So is continuing to operate after a license has been revoked or suspended. The penalty runs from $50 to $200 per day. Because it accrues daily, continued non-compliance adds up fast.
Reporting a Concern About a Boarding Kennel
Under 7§3937, any person may submit a written complaint to the commissioner about a licensed facility. Upon receiving a complaint, the commissioner must investigate. To report a concern about a boarding kennel in Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, or the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, contact me through dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0, or reach the Maine Animal Welfare Program directly at 207-287-3846 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
For more on related Maine animal laws, see the Animal Control FAQ or the full Maine Laws section.
