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Animal Activities Licence

Animal welfare

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

Licenses for the following activities must be obtained when carried out as a business:

  • Selling Animals as Pets
  • Providing or Arranging Boarding in Kennels for Dogs
  • Providing or Arranging Home Boarding for Dogs
  • Providing or Arranging Day Care for Dogs
  • Providing or Arranging Boarding for Cats
  • Breeding of Dogs
  • Keeping or Training Animals for Exhibition
  • Hiring Out of Horses

Licenses are known as an 'animal activity licence', with new nationally-set licence conditions for businesses providing animal-related services.

We cannot change these conditions as they are set in the legislation. Businesses operating with these activities will need to comply with licensing conditions, and will be assessed before the licence is granted to make sure they can meet them.

Minimum standards specific to the activity being carried out must be met prior to a licence being granted. Where higher standards are met, a longer term licence will be issued which will save licensing fees for applicants who achieve and maintain high standards.

The minimum term of a licence will be one year. Where Higher Standards are achieved a two or three year licence will be granted.

All new applications will be rated following their initial inspection.

Application

An application must first be made using the relevant application form (see below). There is a fee for making an application, known as a part A fee. As part of the application, supporting documentation must be provided to show that the applicant can comply with licencing conditions.

Be aware that it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide this information as it demonstrates their competency. If advice is required from an officer, there is a fee of £68 per hour. If you wish for an officer to visit your premises to give advice prior to the inspection, a fee of £295 will apply.

Alternatively, you may decide to seek advice from an external consultant.

Warning If you do not have the necessary paperwork in place or your premises are not structurally compliant, then your application may be refused. At that point your application fee is forfeit and you will need to re-apply in the future and pay a new fee. 

Inspections

All premises will be inspected before a licence is granted. The inspector will be looking to make sure the applicant has the following:

  • A specialist knowledge in the species that they are caring for and a clear understanding of its needs and welfare. This would include the animals' mental and physical health, feeding and knowledge of environmental enrichment. The applicant should be able to demonstrate that they have researched and followed expert guidance in order to carry out their role
  • Comprehensive records that contain all the information required by the conditions that apply to their particular activities
  • An understanding of the risks involved in caring for the animal, including an extensive risk assessment and written policies and procedures that are reviewed regularly. These documents should be available for the Inspector to examine
  • Training procedures in place to make sure staff know what is expected of them, and clear evidence of good supervision of staff.

The premises itself will also be assessed so we can be sure the licence holder can meet the new laws relating to the physical environment in which the animals will be kept.

WarningBefore your inspection we would recommend that you carry out and fill in your own audit prior to the inspection using the appropriate inspection proforma form below so that you can identify any improvements you need to make ahead of your inspection.

After an inspection, a risk rating and star rating will be awarded. Low-risk premises can attain up to five stars, and premises that have been assessed as higher risk can be awarded up to four stars. If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision, they can make the necessary improvements to address highlighted issues, and ask for a re-inspection.

Premises with lower star ratings

A premises with a lower star rating is not necessarily a premises to avoid as there are other factors that have to be considered, such as the length of time the licence holder has been operating. New businesses will be assessed as higher risk because there is no history of good practice that can be considered.

Appeals

You can dispute a star rating given to your business if you feel it does not reflect the animal welfare standards and risk level of the business at the time of the inspection.

You cannot appeal if your business has made improvements and wishes to be reassessed, in this case you will need to apply for re-inspection.

Appeals must be made in writing within 21 calendar days of you receiving your licence.

Costs

You must pay an application fee, known as a Part A fee, when applying for a new application or a renewal application. Before a licence is then issued, you must the pay a Part B fee. Find below the fees for the relevant animal licensing activity.

For horse riding & dog breeding the local authority officer will be accompanied by a vet. This will incur an additional fee. If a business carries out more than one activity the fees will be applied as follows: Highest cost activity for animal licence will be charged at full plus 30% of the second (or second highest) cost activity. Any third or subsequent activity will be charged an additional 10% of the fee.

Animal activities

Selling animals as pets

Application form

Self - audit proforma

Statutory guidance for selling animals as pets (GOV.UK)

1 to 2 classes of animal

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £348 £156 £504
2 year £348 £178 £526
3 year £348 £200 £548

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £348 £121 £469
2 year £348 £143 £491
3 year £348 £218 £513

More than 2 classes of animal

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £348 £302 £650
2 year £348 £324 £672
3 year £348 £346 £694

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £348 £196 £544
2 year £348 £218 £566
3 year £348 £240 £588

Kennels for dogs

Application form

Self - audit performa

Statutory guidance for dog kennel boarding as pets (GOV UK)

4 dogs or less

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £155 £501
2 year £346 £177 £523
3 year £346 £199 £545

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £123 £469
2 year £346 £145 £491
3 year £346 £167 £513

More than 4 dogs

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £179 £525
2 year £346 £201 £547
3 year £346 £223 £569

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £165 £511
2 year £346 £187 £533
3 year £346 £209 £555

Home boarding

Application form

Self - audit performa

Home boarding for dogs licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (GOV.UK)

4 dogs or less

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £155 £501
2 year £346 £177 £523
3 year £346 £199 £545

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £123 £469
2 year £346 £145 £491
3 year £346 £167 £513

More than 4 dogs

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £179 £525
2 year £346 £201 £547
3 year £346 £223 £569

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £165 £511
2 year £346 £187 £533
3 year £346 £209 £555

Day care for dogs

Application form

Self - audit performa

Statutory guidance for day care for dogs (GOV.UK)

4 dogs or less

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £155 £501
2 year £346 £177 £523
3 year £346 £199 £545

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £123 £469
2 year £346 £145 £491
3 year £346 £167 £513

More than 4 dogs

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £179 £525
2 year £346 £201 £547
3 year £346 £223 £569

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £165 £511
2 year £346 £187 £533
3 year £346 £209 £555

Breeding of dogs

Application form

Self - audit performa

Dog breeding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (GOV.UK)

Less than 4 dogs

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £364 £163 £527
2 year £364 £184 £548
3 year £364 £348 £712

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £364 £136 £500
2 year £364 £159 £523
3 year £364 £181 £545

4 or more dogs

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £364 £326 £690
2 year £364 £348 £712
3 year £364 £370 £734

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £364 £144 £508
2 year £364 £164 £530
3 year £364 £188 £552

Boarding for cats

Application form

Self - audit performa

Cat boarding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (GOV.UK)

4 cats or less

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £155 £501
2 year £346 £177 £523
3 year £346 £199 £545

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £123 £469
2 year £346 £145 £491
3 year £346 £167 £513

More than 4 cats

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £179 £525
2 year £346 £201 £547
3 year £346 £223 £569

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £165 £511
2 year £346 £187 £533
3 year £346 £209 £555

Keeping or training of animals for exhibition

Application form

Self - audit performa

Keeping or training animals for exhibition licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (GOV.UK)

1 class of animal

Licence type (3 years) Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
New £485 £218 £703
Renewal £485 £16 £501

More than 1 class of animal

Licence type (3 years) Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
New £485 £328 £813
Renewal £485 £153 £638

Hiring out horses

Application form

Self - audit performa

Hiring out horses licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (GOV.UK)

3 horses or less

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £364 £163 £527
2 year £364 £185 £549
3 year £364 £349 £713

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £137 £501
2 year £346 £159 £523
3 year £346 £181 £545

More than 3 horses

New application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £327 £671
2 year £346 £349 £713
3 year £346 £371 £735

Renewal application

Licence duration Application fee (Part A) Grant fee (Part B) Total
1 year £346 £144 £508
2 year £346 £166 £530
3 year £346 £158 £522

Other fees

Other fees Fees
Advice/rescore visit £295
Admin fee (Change of circumstances, add host to franchisee) £28
Duplicate licence £12
Licence variation fee £56

Public register

Once the Animal Activity Licence has been granted, the premises is listed on a public register.

View the Licensing Register

Warning The Animal activity licence public is being updated.

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted.  If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please email licensing@plymouth.gov.uk.

Complaints

To report an unlicensed activity please email licensing@plymouth.gov.uk