You need an Animal Activity Licence licence to:
- sell animals as pets
- board cats or dogs
- provide home boarding (including day care) for dogs
- hire out horses
- breed dogs
- keep or train animals for exhibition
You need a separate licence to keep dangerous wild animals or run a zoo.
Before you apply
You should read the:
- full information on the law surrounding Animal Activity Licenses
- animal activities licensing statutory guidance on GOV.UK
Your business must comply with the conditions and will be assessed before the license is granted.
Apply for a licence
You will need to register for an account to apply for an animal welfare licence. We will process your application once the fee has been paid.
Licence fees
| Type of licence | Administration and inspection fee | Licence fee* | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Boarding in kennels for dogs |
£450 |
£55.50 |
£505.50 |
Home boarding for dogs |
£450 |
£55.50 |
£505.50 |
Providing day care for dogs |
£450 |
£55.50 |
£505.50 |
Selling animals as pets |
£450 |
£55.50 |
£505.50 |
Keeping or training animals for exhibition |
£450 |
£55.50 |
£505.50 |
| Breeding dogs | £450 + vet fees | £55.50 | £505.50 + vet fees |
Hiring out horses |
£450 + vet fee |
£55.50 |
£505.50 + vet fees |
Providing boarding for cats |
£450 |
£55.50 |
£505.50 |
| Licence Variation | £170 | n/a | £170 |
*The 'Licence Fee' is the only refundable part should the application be withdrawn by the applicant or refused by the Local Authority, as the costs associated with considering the application have already been incurred. A full refund will only be considered where the applicant withdraws their application before it is considered and prior to any arranged visit.
Check if someone has a licence
If someone is providing any of the services listed under the Animal Activity Licence, you can check if they have a licence with us.
Contact us to report any concerns that someone is operating these services without a licence.