Animal welfare licence

You will not be able to get an Animal welfare licence if you’ve been banned from:

• running a riding establishment
• running a pet shop
• keeping animals, including in a boarding kennel or cattery

You may not get a licence if you’ve committed an animal health or welfare offence.

Selling animals as pets

You will need an Animal welfare licence to sell animals as pets. A pet shop is any building where animals are sold as pets, including your own home.

You cannot sell animals as pets in public places, for example from a market stall.

Conditions

We may carry out an inspection to check that:

• the accommodation will be suitable for the animals
• you will provide enough food and drink and visit the animals where necessary
• you will take simple steps to prevent the spread of diseases
• mammals won’t be sold if they’re too young
• you have appropriate plans in case of fire or other emergencies
• Reasonable steps will be taken to protect animals from pain, suffering and disease.

We may also add other specific conditions to your licence. This licence is valid for between 1 and 3 years.

Fines and penalties

• If you run a pet shop without a licence, or break the terms of your licence, you could be fined and/or imprisoned.
• Each licence contains standard conditions. These rules are imposed on pet shops licenced by us.
• Any person that is refused a licence has the right to appeal.

Hiring out horses including riding establishments

A riding establishment is a business that hires out horses or ponies for riding, or a riding school.

A riding establishment licence needs to be renewed every year.

Licence requirements

You need to prove that you have the qualifications and experience of horse management.

You will also need to ensure that your horses are:

• in good health and physically fit
• suitable to be hired out and used for riding
• provided with adequate food, drink, and bedding
• regularly exercised
• safeguarded in an emergency

You will need liability insurance. This will cover you for any injury caused from people riding your horses.

You must keep a register of horses aged 3 years or under. The register is for horses kept on your premises.

The register must be made available for inspection when required.

Restrictions

You must not leave anyone under 16 years old in charge of the riding establishment.

Riders under 16 must be supervised by an adult. This is unless you are satisfied that they are competent to ride without supervision.

Inspection

The council may inspect your premises and horses before giving you a licence.

They may also inspect your premises any time after your licence is granted.

If any of your horses need veterinary attention, you must provide a certificate to show they are fit to return them to work.

You can be fined and/or imprisoned if you run a riding establishment without a licence.

View our riding establishment licence standard conditions.

Breeding dogs

An Animal welfare licence is required if dog breeding involves:

• the breeding of three or more litters in any 12-month period or
• the breeding and advertising of a business of selling dogs.

What are the exemptions?

• Keeping a dog on any premises as a requirement of the Animal Health Act 1981.
• Breeding help dogs under Section 173 of the Equality Act 2010.
• If documentary evidence can be produced to show none of the three litters bred have been sold.

For guidance about dog breeding see GOV.UK.

Providing or arranging boarding services for cats or dogs. (Including day care)

A licence is required for providing boarding for other people’s dogs or cats as a business.

This includes boarding on premises meant for the boarding business.

The following activities are included:

• Boarding for cats
• Boarding kennels for dogs
• Home boarding for dogs
• Day care for dogs
• Arranging dog and cat boarding / day care (third party websites)

Keeping or training animals for exhibition

If a person keeps or trains animals for exhibition as a business, an Animal welfare licence is required.

This includes exhibition to any audience for:

• education
• entertainment
• filming or photography

What are the exemptions?

• animals kept and trained for military, police, or sporting purposes
• any activity permitted under The Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 or the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.