Toronto Pet Grooming, Daycare & Boarding Rules Are Changing: What to Know Before 2027

Toronto's rules for businesses that care for pets are changing significantly.

Starting February 1, 2027, the City will introduce a new Pet Establishment licence covering businesses that sell, board, breed, train or groom animals.

That expands Toronto's municipal business-licensing framework to businesses including:

• pet groomers
• pet daycares
• boarding kennels
• animal trainers
• breeders
• businesses selling or offering animals for adoption

Today, Toronto's pet-business licensing framework primarily applies to pet shops. The new system will bring a much broader range of businesses that keep or care for animals into the City's licensing structure.

According to the City of Toronto, the changes are intended to establish clearer standards for animal care, consumer protection and neighbourhood issues such as noise and odour.

For pet businesses, that makes the rest of 2026 an important preparation period.

For pet owners, the new system should provide another regulatory checkpoint when choosing a business entrusted with an animal.

Here is what is currently confirmed.

Editor's update watch: Toronto says additional Pet Establishment implementation information and a self-assessment tool are expected in fall 2026. AD18 Local will re-check this guide when that material is released and update any affected application, fee or compliance information before the February 1, 2027 start date.

Quick Answer: What Changes on February 1, 2027?

Under the new framework, a business will hold one Pet Establishment licence and obtain endorsements based on the activities it provides.

The approved endorsement structure includes:

• Pet grooming — Pet Grooming endorsement
• Daycare — Animal Daycare/Boarding/Training endorsement
• Boarding — Animal Daycare/Boarding/Training endorsement
• Training — Animal Daycare/Boarding/Training endorsement
• Breeding — Animal Breeding endorsement
• Sale or adoption of animals — Sale/Adoption of Animals endorsement
• Overnight animal keeping — Overnight Animal Keeping endorsement where applicable

A business providing more than one type of service may need multiple endorsements attached to the same licence.

For example, a business offering grooming, daytime daycare and overnight boarding could require:

• a Pet Grooming endorsement
• an Animal Daycare/Boarding/Training endorsement
• an Overnight Animal Keeping endorsement

The City says there will be no additional licence fee for each endorsement.

Toronto also requires a separate Pet Establishment licence for each establishment.

Why Is Toronto Changing the Rules?

Toronto estimates that more than 400 pet establishments operate in the city.

The sector includes grooming salons, kennels, daycares, training businesses and other operators that care for or keep live animals.

Until now, many of those businesses have not been covered by Toronto's pet-business licensing system.

The City identified concerns involving:

• animal welfare
• consumer protection
• sanitation
• record keeping
• noise and odour
• businesses keeping animals for extended periods
• consistent oversight across different types of pet businesses

City Council approved the new licensing framework in July 2025, with the rules scheduled to take effect February 1, 2027.

The delay gives the City time to implement the system and gives affected businesses time to prepare.

What Will Every Pet Establishment Need to Address?

Toronto's approved framework establishes category-wide requirements applying to Pet Establishments.

These include standards related to:

• animal care, feeding and handling
• housing and accommodation
• facility cleanliness and sanitation
• record keeping
• insurance coverage
• access to appropriate veterinary services

Additional requirements apply depending on what services the business provides.

That is the purpose of the endorsement system.

A grooming salon does not present exactly the same risks as a boarding kennel keeping animals overnight, so the licence identifies the establishment while the endorsements identify its particular business activities.

Groomers Will Have Specific Animal-Care Requirements

Toronto's approved rules contain detailed requirements for grooming businesses.

Before accepting a dog or cat for grooming, operators will be required to ensure that the animal has up-to-date vaccinations and parasite treatments unless a licensed veterinarian has provided a written exemption.

Animals must also be inspected at intake for signs of contagious or infectious disease.

If an animal shows signs of illness or injury, the owner must be contacted promptly.

If the owner cannot be reached or cannot arrange immediate care with their preferred veterinarian, the operator must ensure that veterinary care is provided.

Other approved grooming requirements include:

• non-slip surfaces in bathing tubs
• keeping grooming tools, equipment and surfaces clean and in good working order
• using only the level of restraint reasonably necessary for animal and human safety
• restrictions on keeping multiple animals in the same primary enclosure without owner consent

The City's licensing report says the grooming rules are intended to apply across different operating models, including storefront, mobile and home-based grooming businesses.

Other municipal rules, including zoning and use requirements, can still apply separately.

Daycare, Boarding and Training Businesses Have Different Responsibilities

Businesses responsible for animals for several hours or overnight create different animal-care and supervision issues.

Toronto's approved framework contains requirements involving:

• animal health
• accommodation
• veterinary care
• supervision
• separation
• exercise

One rule requires dogs younger than four months to be separated from older dogs that are not owned by the same person unless the younger dog's owner provides written authorization.

Dogs must also have an area where they can exercise freely and safely.

If a dedicated exercise area is not available, they must be walked regularly on a leash.

Businesses keeping animals overnight require the Overnight Animal Keeping endorsement in addition to any other applicable endorsement.

The approved rules also require overnight operators to make a noise-control plan available to the City upon request and tell owners when animals will remain on-site overnight without staff present.

Pet Establishments Will Need Commercial Insurance

The approved framework requires Pet Establishment operators to maintain $2 million in Commercial General Liability insurance.

The City's licensing regulations also require documentation of that coverage to be provided as part of the licensing requirements.

For existing small grooming, boarding or pet-care businesses that do not currently maintain that level of commercial insurance, this is a cost worth investigating before the new framework begins.

Insurance does not replace good animal-care procedures, but it is one of the formal requirements being added to the licensing system.

Record Keeping Will Become More Important

The new framework is not simply a licence fee.

Toronto's approved regulations include detailed record-keeping requirements.

Operators will be expected to maintain records for animals in their care, including information such as:

• arrival or acquisition dates
• departure dates
• animal identification
• breed and physical description
• health and reproductive status
• vaccination information where applicable
• owner contact information

Records of animal-related injuries must also be maintained.

Those injury records can include:

• when the incident occurred
• what happened
• where it happened
• animals or people involved
• what action the business took afterward

The approved rules generally require these records to be retained for 12 months after an animal leaves the business's custody.

For businesses currently relying heavily on text messages, handwritten notes or informal records, 2026 is a good time to establish a more consistent system.

What Businesses Are Not Considered Pet Establishments?

The City's current Pet Establishments page specifically identifies the following as outside this licence category:

• veterinary practices
• animal shelters
• animal rescue organizations

The enacted rules contain additional specific exemptions for certain institutional, research, City-operated and other facilities.

Businesses that are unsure whether an exemption applies should confirm their status with Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards rather than assuming they are excluded.

Existing Pet Shops Will Move Into the New System

Pet shops are already subject to Toronto business licensing.

On February 1, 2027, the current Pet Shop licence category will be replaced by the new Pet Establishment framework.

Existing pet shops will need endorsements corresponding to the activities they provide.

The City is also expanding animal-sourcing requirements.

Beginning February 1, 2027, businesses keeping dogs, cats, rabbits or guinea pigs for sale or adoption will be subject to approved sourcing restrictions.

The City's rules identify permitted sources including:

• animal centres
• registered humane societies
• registered animal rescue groups
• owner surrenders provided at no charge

The framework includes an exception relating to qualifying purebred animals.

Businesses involved in animal sales or adoption should review the City's current requirements directly before the rules take effect.

How Much Will the Pet Establishment Licence Cost?

City Council's 2025 fee schedule listed:

• $758.01 for a Pet Establishment licence application
• $370.08 for renewal

Those fees were designated for annual adjustment.

Because the new licence does not take effect until February 1, 2027, businesses should not assume those 2025 figures will be the exact amount charged in 2027.

The City has already confirmed that individual endorsements will not carry additional licence fees.

Before applying, check Toronto's current licensing information for the final 2027 amount.

This Is Separate From Your Dog or Cat's Licence

The new Pet Establishment licence is a business licence.

It is separate from Toronto's existing requirement for individual dogs and cats living in the city to be licensed.

Current regular annual pet-licensing fees are:

• $25 — spayed or neutered dog
• $60 — dog that is not spayed or neutered
• $15 — spayed or neutered cat
• $50 — cat that is not spayed or neutered

Those fees apply to the pet owner.

They are unrelated to the Pet Establishment licence held by a grooming, boarding or other animal-care business.

What Should Toronto Pet Businesses Do During 2026?

Businesses do not need to behave as though the February 2027 system is already in effect.

But there is plenty they can review now.

A grooming, daycare, boarding, training or other affected pet business can start by checking:

• what services the business currently provides
• which endorsements those services are likely to require
• existing commercial insurance coverage
• animal intake procedures
• vaccination and health procedures
• cleaning and sanitation practices
• incident and injury records
• animal housing and enclosure practices
• exercise and supervision procedures
• emergency veterinary arrangements
• overnight staffing and noise procedures
• whether current zoning permits the operation

The enacted rules also require operators to notify Municipal Licensing and Standards at least 30 days before making an operational change that would change the business activities conducted at the establishment.

So adding a new service such as overnight boarding may eventually have licensing implications in addition to being a normal business decision.

More Implementation Information Is Still Coming

As of September 21, 2026, Toronto's Pet Establishments page still says the City will provide additional implementation information in fall 2026.

The City also says it will provide a self-assessment tool to help businesses determine which endorsements and requirements apply to their operation.

That makes it important to distinguish between:

rules that have already been approved

and

application and implementation guidance that is still being released.

AD18 Local will revisit this article when the City's additional guidance becomes available.

Zoning Is a Separate Issue

A business licence does not automatically mean a pet business can operate in any location.

Toronto is separately reviewing zoning rules for kennels and pet services.

Existing zoning rules regulate where uses such as grooming, boarding, breeding and training can operate.

The City's zoning review is examining whether some pet services can operate closer to residential areas while addressing issues such as noise and odour.

So someone planning a new pet daycare should not assume:

“If I can obtain the 2027 licence, I can open the business anywhere in Toronto.”

Licensing and zoning are separate regulatory questions.

A business should confirm both before signing a lease, expanding or changing how it operates.

What Should Pet Owners Ask a Groomer or Daycare?

The new licence should provide another piece of information consumers can check.

But a municipal licence should not be the only factor used to choose someone who will care for a pet.

Useful questions can include:

• What vaccinations do you require?
• How do you handle sick or injured animals?
• How are animals grouped during daycare?
• Are animals ever left unattended?
• How do you prevent escapes?
• What happens during an emergency?
• What veterinary arrangements do you have?
• How are incidents documented?
• Are animals kept overnight?
• Is staff present overnight?
• Does the business carry commercial insurance?

For boarding, you may also want to understand where your pet will sleep and exercise.

For grooming, tell the business about relevant medical issues, behavioural concerns or sensitivities before leaving the animal.

Does a City Licence Guarantee the Business?

No.

Licensing creates minimum regulatory requirements and gives the City mechanisms for oversight and enforcement.

It does not guarantee:

• that every customer will have a positive experience
• that a groomer is suitable for every breed or animal
• that no animal will ever be injured
• that one daycare environment is appropriate for every pet

Pet owners should still consider their individual animal's needs, ask questions and make their own assessment of a provider.

Find Pet Businesses in Toronto

Pet owners can discover businesses through the AD18 Business Directory.

• Toronto pet businesses: Browse pet businesses in Toronto →
• Toronto Business Directory: Browse all Toronto businesses →

Depending on available listings, this can include businesses involved in grooming, training and other forms of pet care.

You can also read our AD18 Local showcase of Karoot, a Canadian pet-grooming marketplace.

An AD18 Directory listing is a discovery listing. It does not mean AD18 has independently verified a business's municipal licence, insurance coverage, animal-care practices or professional qualifications.

Run a pet-care business in Canada? Add your business free to the AD18 Business Directory.

The Bottom Line

Toronto's pet-service sector is moving toward substantially broader municipal oversight.

Beginning February 1, 2027, businesses involved in grooming, daycare, boarding, training, breeding and animal sales or adoption will fall within the City's new Pet Establishment licensing framework where applicable.

For businesses, preparation involves more than simply applying for a licence.

The framework includes:

licensing → endorsements → animal care → sanitation → records → insurance → service-specific requirements

For pet owners, the changes should create clearer minimum regulatory standards for many businesses entrusted with animals.

The core rules have already been approved, but implementation guidance is still being released during 2026.

Businesses should review the framework now and then check the City's final guidance before applying, changing services or making operational decisions.

Sources & Verification

This article was reviewed on September 21, 2026.

Key City of Toronto sources:

• City of Toronto — Pet Establishments
• City of Toronto — Pet Shops and 2027 by-law changes
• City of Toronto — By-law 1105-2025
• City of Toronto — Licensing for Animal-Related Businesses report
• City of Toronto — Zoning review for kennels and pet services
• City of Toronto — Pet licensing fees

This article provides general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Requirements can change as Toronto releases implementation guidance. Businesses should confirm current licensing, zoning, fee and operating requirements directly with the City before applying for a licence or making business changes.