Pet Sitting Business Permit Requirements in Philadelphia, PA

Complete permit and license guide for starting a pet sitting business in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Verified 2026-09-02 6 stops $300–$750 est. 2–4 weeks for in-home visiting pet sitting; up to 6 weeks if boarding from home
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Pennsylvania

2 stops

  1. Pennsylvania — No State Pet Sitter License

    Pennsylvania does not license pet sitting or dog walking as such, and sitters who only visit clients' homes for walks or drop-in care are outside kennel licensing. The Dog Law is not limited to breeders, though: the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement licenses any establishment in or through which at least 26 dogs are kept or transferred in a calendar year — a cumulative annual count, not dogs held at one time — and any boarding kennel needs a license no matter how many dogs it takes. If you board dogs for a fee at your own home, confirm your status with the Bureau at 717-787-3062. Cats are not covered by the Dog Law.

    Official government source

    No state fee for pet sitting or dog walking; a Dog Law kennel license fee applies if you board dogs, set by kennel class and capacityN/A

  2. Pennsylvania Business Registration

    LLCs, corporations, and partnerships must register with the Pennsylvania Department of State ($125 filing fee). Sole proprietors using a trade name must file a fictitious name (DBA) registration with the PA Department of State ($70 fee), not the county.

    Official government source

    $125 (LLC filing fee)Immediate (online) to 5 business days

City of Philadelphia / Philadelphia County

3 stops

  1. Philadelphia Commercial Activity License

    All businesses operating in Philadelphia, including pet sitting businesses, must obtain a Commercial Activity License (CAL) from the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). The license is free, does not expire, and does not need to be renewed. You must first have a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) account with the Department of Revenue; applying online through eCLIPSE issues the license automatically.

    Official government source

    $0 (no fee)Same day (issued automatically online via eCLIPSE)

  2. Pennsylvania Kennel License (for boarding) — PA Dept of Agriculture

    If you board clients' dogs at your home or a commercial facility in Philadelphia, you may need a state kennel license from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which licenses and inspects kennels, including boarding kennels. Whether a license is required depends on the number of dogs kept or boarded — confirm the threshold and class of license with the Bureau. Philadelphia itself does not issue a separate city kennel permit; ACCT Philly handles animal control and dog licensing.

    Official government source

    Varies by kennel class — confirm with the PA Bureau of Dog Law EnforcementVaries (application plus kennel inspection)

  3. Philadelphia Zoning Home-Occupation Compliance + PA Kennel License

    Boarding animals at a Philadelphia residence is governed by the Philadelphia Zoning Code's accessory 'home occupation' standards rather than any named 'Home Occupation Permit' — L&I lists no such standalone permit; if the use is not allowed by-right you will need a zoning/use registration permit from L&I (dial 311, or 215-686-8686 from outside the city). Separately, boarding dogs for a fee makes the operation a 'boarding kennel' under the Pennsylvania Dog Law, which requires a state kennel license from the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement regardless of how many dogs are boarded; a kennel license is also required for any establishment through which at least 26 dogs are kept or transferred in a calendar year. ACCT Philly handles dog and horse licensing, not kennel registration.

    Official government source

    Fees vary: a Philadelphia zoning/use registration permit, if required, is $189 per use; state kennel license fees are set by the PA Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (717-787-3062) and scale with the number of dogs.About 5 business days for an online Philadelphia zoning permit, if one is required; allow additional time for a state kennel license

Terminus

Open for business — est. $300–$750 · 2–4 weeks for in-home visiting pet sitting; up to 6 weeks if boarding from home

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