The term matters because a few kennels use crates as beds. State law treats them very differently from a run.
The definition and the limit
Health and Safety Code section 122380 defines a temporary enclosure as a structure used to restrict a pet, including a crate or cage, that does not provide effective separation from the pet's waste. Section 122382 limits a pet's time in one to 4 hours during the day and 12 hours at night, or the humane limit for that pet if shorter, and requires the pet be let out for at least long enough to relieve itself.
Why a run is not a crate
A fixed enclosure such as an exercise run or kennel has a floor and layout that keep waste away from the pet. That is the type of space a boarding guest lives in. The crate belongs to travel, short rests and recovery. Your own dog's crate at home is covered by none of this; the rules are for facilities.
What it means at Happy Paws
Dogs stay in indoor/outdoor runs, and the doggie door gives them the choice of inside or outside. If your dog is crate-trained and likes a den, tell the staff; a Kuranda bed and blankets are in every run. For travel to the kennel, a crate in the car is fine and keeps a dog secure. Staff walk your pet in from the car.
What to look for on a tour
Ask where dogs sleep and how long they spend in any crate or cage. A written schedule is part of what the law asks a facility to share. Read fixed enclosure, how to choose a dog kennel and California's pet boarding law.
Crates and car rides
A crate is still a good tool for the drive to a kennel, for a vet visit or for a nervous dog at home. Pick one that is large enough to stand and turn in, secure it in the car and keep it out of the sun. Dogs that sleep in a crate at home may need a few extra days of settling in a run, so a tour first is helpful.