Animal Licences

Please be aware that a number of enforcement cases have arisen which has severely impacted on the Authority’s ability to process new license applications. Current licences remain valid, and until an officer can contact you in relation to your inspection/licence then please continue to trade as usual.

We will be progressing the inspection programme shortly, and an officer will be contacting you to enable the completion of the licensing process for your premises.

On 1st October 2018, The Animal Welfare (licensing of Activities Involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into effect.

Animal Welfare and Licensing Policy (.pdf | 1.3mb)

All activities will be assessed as to whether they need a licence. If you are unsure if you need a licence please contact the Environmental Health team on 01246 231111 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you are trading illegally and then apply for a licence then this may impact on the consideration of your application.

Licences for the following activities will be needed when carried out as a business with the exception of breeding:

  • Selling Animals as Pets
  • Providing or Arranging for the Provision of Boarding of Cats or Dogs Which includes:-
  • Cat boarding
  • Kennel Boarding for Dogs
  • Home Boarding for Dogs
  • Day Care Boarding for Dogs
  • Hiring Out Horses For Riding or Instruction in Riding
  • Breeding Dogs
  • Keeping or Training Animals For Exhibition

If you have a licence

If you have an existing valid licence, you don’t need to renew it until it expires. The application process does take 10 weeks so if you do not want a break in your licence term then you must apply at least 10 weeks prior to your current licence expiring.

If you have a dog boarding licence aund also look after dogs in the day, you will need to obtain a licence for this activity as well if the operation is different to the home boarding operation.

Eligibility

The licence holder must be a named person who is not disqualified from holding a licence in accordance with the requirements of regulation 11 of the regulations. A person cannot apply for a licence if they have previously had a licence revoked under the Regulations or is disqualified from keeping an animal under any other legislation.

Application Forms and Fees

The following documents are application forms which are activity specific, and appropriate fees. Please note home boarding licences and day care licences are to be submitted on the animal boarding application. Licences for home boarding and day care cannot be run at the same premises.

Guidance Documents

Guidance documents specific to each activity can be found below.

Public registers for animal licences 

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