Apply for a licence to sell animals

Overview

You need to get a licence if your business sells animals:

as pets
which will later be resold as pets

You still need a licence if your business is based at home or you sell animals online.

You cannot:

sell animals as pets in public places, such as a market stall
sell puppies or kittens if you have not bred them yourself

You do not need a licence to sell a small number of offspring of pets that you’ve bred. However, if you do this often or with many animals you may be classed as a business and may need a licence. If you don't know if you need an licence, please contact us.

Restrictions

You will not get a licence if you’ve committed animal welfare offences or if you have been banned from:

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

You may not get a licence if you’ve committed other offences.

Fees

Type of licence	Administration and inspection fee	Licence fee	Total fee
Selling animals as pets	£450	£55.50	£505.50
Minor variation e.g. amend animals on licence	£25 per animal up to a maximum of 5 animals	N/A	£25 per animal up to a maximum of 5 animals
Re-assessment of star rating	£81.50 per hour	N/A	£81.50 per hour

Vet fees are payable by the applicant and recharged post inspection to the applicant by the council. A licence will not be granted until fees are paid in full. If no licence is granted only the licence fee will be refunded.

Where two activities are undertaken, fees payable will be the highest total fee plus 50% of any subsequent activity. This does not apply where the activity is a zoo or dangerous wild animal application.

Before you apply

You should read the:

Conditions

The council will carry out an inspection before you get a licence. They may carry out additional inspections at any time after it’s granted.

You must prove that you can meet the licence conditions. These include showing that the animals are:

kept in suitable accommodation
given adequate food and water
visited and exercised regularly
protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
protected in case of an emergency, like a fire
looked after by people who are trained to care for the animals

The council will also check that the animals are not too young. For example, you cannot sell:

puppies, kittens, ferrets or rabbits less than 8 weeks old
puppies or kittens that you have not bred yourself

You’ll also need to:

keep any records ready for inspection, such as a register of animals for sale or details of any veterinary treatment
display the licence number in any advertising
display the licence clearly on the premises
give prospective owners information on how to care for the animal

Fines and penalties

If your business sells pets without a licence you could go to prison for up to 6 months or be fined for an unlimited amount. You could also get an unlimited fine if you break the conditions of your licence.

Apply

You will need the following to complete this application:

a plan of the premises
a copy of your insurance policy
operating procedures
risk assessments
infection control procedures
relevant qualifications
training records
all documents relating to 9.1 of the conditions
emergencies as per 10.1 of the conditions

Begin your application

You will need to register for an account on our licencing website before you can apply.

Register now

If you already have an account, you can login and apply.

Login and apply now

After you apply

Once you apply:

an officer will contact you to discuss your application and arrange an inspection
officers assess:
- animal accommodation and care
- staff training and experience
- record-keeping and emergency procedures
if approved, your licence and star rating will be issued and a paper copy will be sent to you
your licence must be displayed publicly and on any website used for your business

Star Rating System

The star rating shows how well a business meets animal welfare standards and how reliably it’s run. A higher rating (up to 5 stars) means better welfare and lower risk, and it allows for a longer licence period.

Your business will be rated from 1 to 5 stars, based on:

welfare standards (minimum vs higher)
risk level (compliance history)

Higher ratings (4–5 stars) mean:

you meet all required and at least 50% of optional higher standards
you qualify for a longer licence (up to 3 years)
you pay lower fees and may have fewer inspections

Lower ratings (1–2 stars) may result from minor failings or being a new applicant.

Appealing your rating

If you're unhappy with your rating, you can appeal. Start by contacting the inspecting officer to see if the matter can be resolved informally. If you're still unhappy with the outcome, you can send a formal appeal by email to Environmental Health. You must do this within 21 days of getting your licence. Your appeal will be looked at by someone who wasn’t involved in your original inspection or rating.

Requesting a re-assessment

If you've made improvements and want a new rating, you can ask for a re-inspection. Just email Environmental Health and include:

what changes you’ve made
any evidence to support your request

There’s a fee for this service, and the re-inspection should happen within 3 months. Keep in mind that your new rating could be higher or lower.

Renewal applications process

Licence holders should submit a renewal application no less than 10 weeks before the expiry date of their current licence. This allows sufficient time for inspections and processing to ensure continuity of the licence. If you do not wish to renew your licence please let us know.

Useful links

GOV.UK Licence Guide
Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities
Star Rating System Explained