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Animal licensing

Introduction to animal licensing

You’ll need to apply for an animal licence if you:

  • sell animals
  • board cats or dogs
  • breed dogs
  • hire horses
  • train or exhibit animals

There are several different licenses, depending on your circumstances.

After you apply

Once you’ve applied for an animal licence, you’ll receive an inspection from one of our inspecting officers and an independent vet. The inspection will assess the level of risk at your premises.

You can read more about the premises inspection.

How much you’ll pay

The fee for your licence will depend on the licence you're applying for and the score you receive during your first inspection visit. The fee comes in two parts – part A and part B.

Part A

Part A pays for the administration of the licence. This doesn’t include the fee for the vet who attends a premises inspection.

Part B

Part B is the cost of the licence itself. The fee you’ll be charged for part B is different, depending on the risk rating you receive during your premises inspection.

Renewal

An animal licence can last between one and three years, depending on the type of licence you’ve applied for and the outcomes of the inspections at your premises.

You’ll need to apply to renew your licence at least 10 weeks before the existing one expires.

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