Animal activity licences
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
On 1st October 2018, the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force. These regulations were made under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and 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
Statutory Guidance from DEFRA
On 1st June 2023 the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published updated statutory guidance for local authorities in relation to the new regulations, along with statutory guidance notes on the conditions that apply to licences issued to authorise the different licensable activities.
These guidance notes apply to all applications for grant or renewal of licences after 1st June 2023.
The various statutory guidance notes can be reached via the links below:
Animal activity licensing process: statutory guidance for local authorities
Selling animals as pets licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Dog kennel boarding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Home boarding for dogs licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Dog day care licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Cat boarding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Hiring out horses licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Dog breeding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities
Keeping or training animals for exhibition licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities