About animal licence applications
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 requires business operators carrying out animal activities to be licensed.
Businesses must not trade without the correct licence in place.
Under separate legislation, we’re also responsible for licensing zoos, and people who keep dangerous wild animals.
We aim to promote the wellbeing of animals by ensuring that licensed premises comply with the conditions of their licence set out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and by enforcing legislation to protect animals from harm.
Our Animal and Environmental Protection Team:
- inspect new applicants and licensed establishments (with an independent vet where necessary)
- respond to complaints about premises where animals are kept where a licence is already issued or may be required
- provide advice and guidance to businesses and members of the public about animal welfare.
For more information on licences, email animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk or call 01634 333 333.
Who needs an animal licence
If you're carrying out an animal activity that involves making any sale or profit, or if you're earning a commission or fee, then you'll need a licence to do this.
You'll need an animal licence if you:
- run a boarding kennel or cattery
- offer dog home boarding or day care
- sell animals as pets
- breed dogs
- hire out horses
- train or exhibit animals
- operate a zoo
- keep a dangerous wild animal.
Find out more about the HMRC meaning of trade.
Find out and check if you need to pay business rates.
Find out more about your responsibilities as a licence holder.
Where to apply
Medway Council is the licensing authority for any licensable animal activity carried out on premises in Medway.
If the premises is not in Medway, applicants need to apply to the council responsible for licensing in their area.
Use the GOV.UK tool to find your local council.
If you keep and train animals for exhibition, you should apply to the council where your business is registered.
How to apply
To apply for a licence, you'll need to complete an online application form for the licence you need.
If you carry out more than one licensable activity, you may need to complete an application for each one.
Pre-application advice service
We offer a pre-application advice service if you need advice and guidance on applying for a licence. The fee for this service is £115. If pre-application advice leads to a licence application, the Part A application fee will be
To book a pre-application advice meeting, email animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk.
Fees
Part A - application and inspection fee
This fee is for processing your application and inspecting your premises.
We’ll request this payment once your application has been reviewed and before inspection takes place.
Part B - licensing fee
This is another fee which you'll need to pay if you’re granted a licence, which is based on the risk rating your premises recieved during inspection.
We’ll request this payment following inspection.
You do not need to pay the Part B fee for:
- keeping and training animals for exhibition licences
- zoo licences
- dangerous wild animal licences.
This is because these licences are not subject to a risk rating.
Vet fees
You’ll also need to pay any vet fees incurred during inspection.
We must appoint a vet for the following inspections:
- dog breeding (initial inspection)
- hiring of horses (initial, annual and renewal inspections)
- zoo
- dangerous wild animals.
What happens next
Once we've received your application and Part A fee we’ll arrange an inspection of your premises.
After your inspection we’ll produce an inspection report and write to you to let you know the outcome of your licence application.
If you’re successful, the licensing officer will rate the premises based on the level of risk and welfare standards.
You'll get a risk rating of either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 stars. This will determine how long your licence will last for.
Premises that have no documented history of compliance will receive a higher risk rating automatically.
Licences not subject to risk rating are:
- keeping and training animals for exhibition licences, which are valid for 3 years
- zoo licences, which are valid for 4 years
- dangerous wild animal licences, which are valid for 2 years.
Medway's Animal Licensing Register
If a licence is granted, the licence details will also be published in Medway Council’s online Animal Licensing Register.
Renewing your licence
If you intend to keep operating, you’ll need to renew your licence.
You'll be notified when your licence is due to expire.