Animal Activities Licensing
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
Changes to licensing regulations
The Government has recently published the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The effect of the new regulations is to replace some existing licensing regimes and to put in place a new licensing regime to control the following licensable activities:
- Selling animals as pets
- Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
- Hiring out horses
- Breeding dogs
- Keeping or training animals for exhibition
The regulations came into effect on 1 October 2018 and introduce a new licensing regime to replace the licensing and registration regimes previously in place under the following legislation:
- Pet Animals Act 1951
- Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
- Riding Establishments Acts 1964 & 1970
- Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 & Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999
- Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925
Guidance from DEFRA
The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published procedural guidance for local authorities in relation to the new regulations, along with guidance notes on the conditions that will apply to licences issued to authorise the different licensable activities. The procedural and other guidance notes, together with the relevant licence application forms, can be viewed and downloaded below.
Licence fees
- Animal activity licence fees
Apply for a licence
A standard applicant form must accompany every licence application
Breeding dogs
- Apply for a licence to breed dogs
- Guidance notes for conditions for breeding dogs
- Revocation of licence: On Tuesday 25 February 2020 the city council’s licensing regulatory committee revoked a dog breeding licence held by Daniel and Hollie Brockhill of 16 Robin Crescent Heysham. Animal activity licences, which are granted under The Animal Welfare (Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, can be revoked where licence conditions are not being complied with, where there has been a breach of regulations, where information supplied by the licence holder is false or misleading, or where it is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal. In this case the committee was satisfied on all four grounds. The licence was revoked with immediate effect, however Mr and Mrs Brockhill have a right of appeal within 28 days.
Commercial boarding (in kennels) of dogs
- Apply for a licence for commercial provision of boarding for dogs
- Guidance notes for conditions for providing boarding in kennels for dogs
- View licensed kennels and catteries
Home boarding of dogs
- Apply for a licence for the provision of home boarding for dogs
- Guidance notes for conditions for providing home boarding for dogs
- View licensed dog home boarders
Day care for dogs
- Apply for a licence for the provision of daycare for dogs
- Guidance notes for conditions for providing day care for dogs
Commercial boarding of cats
- Apply for a licence for commercial provision of boarding for cats
- Guidance notes for conditions for providing boarding for cats
- View licensed kennels and catteries
Selling animals as pets
- Apply for a licence to sell animals as pets
- Guidance notes for conditions for selling animals as pets
Hiring out horses
Exhibition of animals
Procedural guidance
Frequently asked questions
Last updated: 16 April 2024