Pet Business Licences in Malaysia: What Pet Shops, Cat Hotels, Groomers and Vet Clinics Need (2026)

Most pet businesses in Peninsular Malaysia need three things. You register with SSM. You get a premise licence from your local council. You also need a DVS licence if you board animals or sell live ones. Sabah and Sarawak use their own state laws. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Searching for a pet shop license in Malaysia? The answers are scattered. Some are in Malay. Some are on old pages. Some disagree with each other.

This guide puts it all in one place. You will see what each business needs. You will also see the order to apply in.

Rules come from three places. They are SSM, your local council and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). Get the order right. It saves you from doing things twice.

Which Licences Does a Pet Business in Malaysia Need?

It depends on what you do.

Selling live animals needs a DVS licence. So does paid boarding. DVS says this applies even if you board one animal.

Check the table for your business.

Council rules differ by area. Ask yours before you sign a lease.

Step 1: Register Your Business with SSM

Every pet business starts here. You register with SSM, the Companies Commission of Malaysia. You can register an enterprise. Or you can form a Sdn Bhd.

Both give you a registration certificate. You will need it later. Your council asks for it. So does the DVS. Keep a digital copy ready.

Register before you rent your space. That way, every form carries the same business name.

Starting from zero? Read our ultimate pet grooming business guide for 2026 for general start-up advice.

Step 2: Get a Premise Licence from Your Local Council

Next, apply to your local council. Malaysians call it the PBT. Each council sets its own rules and fees. Petaling Jaya, Penang Island and Johor Bahru are run by MBPJ, MBPP and MBJB. Kuala Lumpur is run by DBKL. Check your own council’s website before you apply.

Do this before you go to DVS. DVS asks for your council licence first. In areas with no local council, DVS asks for support from the relevant authority.

Step 3: Apply for a DVS Licence Under the Animal Welfare Act 2015

DVS runs licences under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, also called Act 772. Section 15 says you need a licence for set activities. You cannot run them without one.

Which Activities Need a DVS Licence

The Act lists 13 licensable activities. DVS says four are in force now: (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

• Selling live animals in cages
• Animal accommodation, meaning paid pet boarding or care
• Riding and herding
• Animal shelters

Pet shops that sell live animals are covered. So are pet hotels. Bernama also reported that animal spas count as accommodation. Training is on the full list but not in force yet. Check the DVS portal for updates.

How to Apply Online at awa.dvs.gov.my

1. Prepare your files. You need your MyKad and SSM certificate. You also need a floor plan, photos of your premises and photos of your cages. Add the cage sizes. DVS gives a PowerPoint template for photos and floor plans.
2. Register on MyAnimalWelfare. Create a user account at awa.dvs.gov.my. Register your premises.
3. Fill in and submit the form. You do this inside the system.
4. Send extra details if DVS asks. You can update the form.
5. Wait for the decision. DVS emails you. The status also shows in the system.
6. Pay after approval. Print the invoice from the system. Pay at the counter, or by remittance or bank draft.
7. Collect your licence. You get it on the day you pay.

DVS publishes a licence application guide for each activity. Read yours first. Questions? Call DVS on 03-8870 2000. Or email animalwelfare@dvs.gov.my.

DVS Licence Fees and Renewal

The Animal Welfare (Licensing Fees) Regulations 2021 set the fees. A new licence costs RM100. A renewal costs RM50. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

DVS’s guide says the first licence lasts one year. A renewal is set for three years. The Animal Welfare Board can set other periods. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Apply to renew at least 60 days before your licence ends. If you miss that, you must apply again. Put the date in your calendar today.

Cat Hotels and Pet Boarding: What Inspectors Look For

Cats are Malaysia’s favourite pet. In a 2023 Standard Insights survey, 77.7% of pet parents had at least one cat. Cat hotels are also called hotel kucing in Malay.

DVS licences paid pet boarding. It does not matter how many animals you keep. One animal is enough. Your licence must be on show at your premises.

DVS’s application form shows what it asks about:

• Your space: cage sizes and numbers, floor, walls, roof, ventilation, lighting and drainage
• Cleaning: daily routine, disinfectant, pest control, waste disposal and litter trays for cats
• Health: who checks new arrivals, daily checks, and up-to-date vaccine, deworming and flea status for dogs and cats
• Safety: an isolation area, a food storage room and fire prevention
• Records: check-in and check-out, animal ID, food, health and death records, a written note of each pet’s condition, a written agreement with the pet parent, and a plan for unclaimed pets

DVS officers also inspect licensed premises from time to time. Boarding follows DVS’s Code of Practice for pet boarding. Read it before you build your cages.

Grooming Salons: Is There a Grooming Licence?

DVS lists four activities that need a licence now. Grooming on its own is not one of them. But Bernama reported that DVS counts animal spas as accommodation. So a salon that keeps pets for long stays may need a DVS licence. You still need SSM and council licences. If you are unsure, ask DVS. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Sabah and Sarawak: Different Rules

The Act covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Sabah and Sarawak have their own state laws. When the Act began in 2017, both agreed to bring in most of it.

Based there? Check your state rules first.

Penalties and Common Mistakes

Running a licensed activity without a licence is an offence. The fine is RM15,000 to RM75,000. You can also get up to two years in jail, or both. DVS states this on its own licensing page. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Avoid these mistakes:

• Going to DVS first. Get the council licence before you apply.
• Missing your renewal. You must renew 60 days before expiry. Miss it, and you apply again.
• Thinking small means exempt. DVS says one boarded animal is enough.
• Hiding the licence. DVS wants it on show.
• Trusting old fee pages. Some sites say renewal is yearly. DVS says three years.

Not every application passes. Bernama reported 1,907 of 3,314 approved from March 2021 to September 2026. That is just over half. Check each form twice before you submit.

Records to Keep Once You Are Licensed

Your licence is not the finish line. DVS officers inspect licensed premises. Tidy records make that easier.

Keep these ready:

• Vaccine dates
• Pet notes
• Check-in and check-out times
• Bills

Happy Pet Tech is built for pet businesses. You record vaccine dates and pet notes in one place. You see kennel occupancy at a glance. You send bills and reminders on WhatsApp. It does not replace your licence. It keeps your records easy to find.

See how it works for pet boarding, pet shops , grooming, and vet clinics.

Want to see it for yourself? Book a Free Demo

FAQs

Do I need a licence to open a cat hotel in Malaysia?

Yes. Paid pet boarding needs a DVS licence. The Animal Welfare Act 2015 requires it. This applies even to one animal. You also need SSM registration and a council licence. Get the council licence first. Keep your licence on display at the premises.

How much does a DVS licence cost?

A new DVS licence costs RM100. A renewal costs RM50. The Animal Welfare (Licensing Fees) Regulations 2021 set these. The first licence lasts one year. A renewal is set for three years. Council fees are separate. Check your council for its rate. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

How long is a DVS licence valid?

The first licence lasts one year. A renewal is set for three years. DVS can set other periods. Apply to renew at least 60 days before expiry. If you miss that date, you must make a new application. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Do pet groomers need a licence in Malaysia?

Not on its own. Grooming is not one of the four activities DVS licenses now. But Bernama reported that animal spas count as accommodation. So ask DVS if your salon keeps pets for long stays. You still need SSM registration and a council licence. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Can I run a pet boarding business from home in Malaysia?

If you charge for boarding, you need a DVS licence. DVS’s rule covers any paid boarding. DVS also asks for your council licence first. Ask your council about its rules before you start. (changes from time to time, so check the official website)

Does the Animal Welfare Act apply in Sabah and Sarawak?

Not directly. The Act covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Sabah and Sarawak have their own state laws. In 2017, both agreed to bring in most of the Act. Check your state rules before you open.