Pet Shop Licences

The keeping and running of a pet shop is controlled by the Pet Animals Act 1951.

 

 

 

 

Anyone who has a business selling animals as pets requires a pet shop licence and cannot keep a pet shop unless they have first obtained a licence from their local authority.

 

A pet shop licence will not be issued if the applicant has been disqualified under any of the following Acts

 

 

The conditions that a pet shop owner must adhere to are available as a downloadable document at the bottom of the page.

 

 

 

Please apply using the application form, available as a downloadable document at the bottom of the page.

 

A new application is £145.00 and the renewal fee is £125.00, payable when you send the application to the Licensing General section.

 

 

 

 

It is advisable to submit your application to the Licensing General section as soon as possible as your application could take up to two months to be administered.

 

Once your application is submitted, a copy is sent to the Animal Control and Enforcement Section who will arrange to inspect your premises. During busy times, for example, at the end of the year when there are a large number of renewals of licences, it is not guaranteed that an appointment will be made straight away. Therefore, the earlier your application is submitted, the more likely you are to have your licence issued for when your premises opens or when your previous licence expires.

 

If your licence is not in place, you will not be allowed to sell animals as pets.

 

 

 

 

Where a licence is granted, that licence and any subsequent licence will expire on 31st December of the year to which it relates and must be renewed before that date if the premises are to continue as a pet shop.