Animal licensing

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 apply to:

animal boarding
selling animals as pets
hiring out horses
breeding dogs
keeping or training animals for exhibition

These regulations mean that all licence holders will need to follow an application process and comply with national regulations. As part of this, you will also receive a rating based on your standard, which you will need to display on your premises. The rating will be between one and five, with five being the best you can receive.

You can find guidance on the regulations from the Canine and Feline Sector Group.

The regulations don't apply to dangerous wild animal or zoo licences.

You don't need a licence to keep chickens or pigs. You can find out what animals you need a licence for on GOV.UK.

Report unlicensed animal premises

If you think a premises is operating without the relevant animal licence, you can report it to us.

Animal Welfare Policy

Whilst we encourage an increased awareness throughout the district of the need to care for the welfare of animals, we recognise that not all matters are within our influence.

Our Animal Welfare Policy therefore deliberately focuses on the areas where we have direct responsibility for animal welfare by stating where we can and will take action.

Boarding You need this licence if you run a boarding cattery or kennel.

Dangerous wild animals You need this licence if you keep a dangerous wild animal.

Dog breeding You need this licence if you breed dogs for sale.

Dog day care You need this licence if you look after other people's dogs during the day.

Home boarding You need this licence if you look after other people's dogs in your own home.

Horse riding establishments You need this licence if you keep horses and hire them out for riding or use them for horse riding lessons.

Performing animals You need this licence if you train animals to use them in a performance, exhibit them or offer encounters with them.

Pet shop You need this licence if you sell animals as pets.

Zoos You need this licence if you keep wild animals for exhibition and allow members of the public to view the animals for seven or more days in a 12 month period.