Animal licensing

Statutory guidance

Animal licence fees

Paws on the doors

Home boarding for dogs

Information on boarding other peoples’ dogs overnight in a home environment.

Kennels and catteries

Information on applying for an animal boarding licence for cats and dogs.

Dog day care

Information on daytime-only dog care services and related licensing requirements.

Selling animals as pets

Information on selling any vertebrate animal except dogs.

Dog breeding

Information on licensing requirements for breeding dogs if selling puppies for over £1,000 annually or breeding 3 or more litters a year. Read the guidance before applying.

Zoo licence

Information on zoo licensing if displaying wild animals to the public for 7 or more days per year, excluding circuses and pet shops.

Training and exhibiting animals

Information on licensing requirements for exhibiting animals to the public, free or for charge, more than 7 times a year.

Hiring out horses

Information on running a riding stable or hiring out horses for financial gain, read the guidance thoroughly before applying.

Dangerous wild animals licence and primate licence

Information on licensing requirements for owning certain animals to ensure safety and animal welfare.

Microchipping

By law, all puppies from 8 weeks and kittens from 20 weeks must be microchipped.

Learn more

Ban on XL bully dogs

Breeding, owning, selling, or rehoming unlicensed XL Bullys is illegal. Guidance is available on what to do if you have an unlicensed XL Bully.