You will need to apply for a licence if you wish to carry out any of the below:
- pet sales (including pet shops and online pet sales).
- boarding dogs or cats (including boarding kennels, catteries, dog boarding at home, dog day care, and arranging boarding for other people’s dogs and cats).
- dog breeding (including home dog breeders).
- hiring out horses (including riding schools, pony riding parties, horse trekking, polo instruction and more).
- keeping and training animals for exhibition (including animals exhibited at schools, parties or events, or used in any TV, film or theatre production).
- run a zoo.
- keep dangerous, wild or exotic animals.
- keep primates.
We issue licences for one, two or three years, with longer licences granted to high performing, low risk businesses.
- Businesses will be star rated between one and five stars, with a one star rating earning a one year licence and a five star rating earning a three year licence.
- The risk rating will be based on compliance history, animal knowledge and ability to demonstrate good practice and staff training.
You can have a number of separate licensing activities on the same licence.
National conditions apply to all licences. There are also general conditions are applicable to all licences and specific conditions which are tailored to each individual licensable activity.
