The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
The Government has now published updated legislation for animal businesses and confirmed that these changes will take effect from 1 October 2018.
Under the new law, animal boarding businesses (including home boarders and day carers), dog breeders, pet shops and riding establishments will be covered under a single type of licence from that date. It will be known as an 'animal activity licence', with new nationally set general and specific conditions for businesses. Businesses operating any of these activities will need to comply with the new conditions, and will be assessed before any licence is granted to make sure they can meet them.
Those businesses operating under current licences will be able to continue to do so until the expiry date of their licence. All applications to renew licences will be under the new legislation.
- View a full copy of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
- View a full copy of the Animal Welfare Regulation 2018 (including both the general and specific licence conditions)
- View guidance notes and conditions for each of the activities involving animals
The individual activity pages include more information about each licence and the application forms and fees.
- Selling animals as pets
- Breeding and sale of dogs
- Boarding for dogs in kennels, home boarding for dogs, day care for dogs and boarding for cats
- Keeping or training animals for exhibition
- Hiring out horses
- Zoo Licence
- Dangerous wild animals
Dogs
For information about stray dogs, lost dogs, animal nuisance and dogs fouling visit the dog warden scheme page.