Keeping dangerous wild animals

If you've a wild, exotic or dangerous animal – and you're not running a zoo, circus, pet shop or laboratory – then you'll need to apply for a licence. This is to make sure you're maintaining a high standard of animal welfare and that there's no risk to members of the public.

See a list of animals that need a licence on legislation.gov.uk

If you keep such animals without a licence, we can seize and either keep, destroy or otherwise dispose of unlicenced animals – and you could be fined up to £2,000.

Hybrid or cross-bred animals may need a licence, depending on how far removed the animal is from its wild ancestor. If you’re not sure, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page for advice.

Apply for a licence

To apply for a licence, complete an application form (ODT, 57KB). Send it to us using the details at the bottom of this page, along with any supporting documentation.

You must be the person who owns and keeps, or proposes to own and keep, the animal to apply for this licence.

You must submit a renewal application at least 12 weeks before the licence expires. This is so we can access your application and carry out any inspections in time for the licenced activity to continue without a break.

Fees

Barrow area

For both new applications and renewals the total fee is £270 plus vet fees. This is made up of a
£172 application fee and a £98 grant fee.

In the Barrow area, you can pay for your application online.

Eden area

Applications are £79.

You can pay the fee by calling 0300 373 3300 using payment code: E03042 E8001 and your name and business name as the reference. Alternatively, you can send a cheque by post using the details at the bottom of this page or at the reception at Voreda House.

South Lakeland area

Applications are £263.

When we get your application, we’ll either contact you to take the payment by card or send you an email with the details you need to make a payment.

Visit to your premises

Before a licence can be issued, an officer will arrange to visit your premises to carry out a risk assessment and to see how you look after the animals in your care. A veterinary inspection will be carried out for new and renewal applications, and may also be carried out at other times, for which you'll need to pay an additional fee.

Following the visit, if your application is successful we’ll issue a licence that lasts for two years.

Conditions of the licence

To issue a licence, the veterinary surgeon acting on our behalf must be satisfied that:

• you're a suitable person to hold a licence to keep the animal
• the animal will be kept in accommodation that prevents its escape and is suitable in respect of construction, size, temperature, drainage and cleanliness
• you’ll give the animal suitable food, drink and bedding material and it can be visited at suitable intervals
• you’ll take appropriate steps to ensure the protection of the animal in case of fire or other emergency
• you’ll take all reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases
• the animal accommodation is such that it can take adequate exercise

The licence will be subject to such conditions as we see fit and these conditions will specify that:

• only the person named on the licence shall be entitled to keep the animal
• the animal shall only be kept on the premises named on the licence
• the animal shall not be moved, or may only be moved in accordance with conditions specified in the licence
• you must hold a current insurance policy, approved by us, which insures against liability for damage caused by the animal
• you can only keep the species and number of animals listed on the licence
• you shall make a copy of the licence and its contents available to any other person listed on the licence as being able to look after the animal

Contact our Licensing Team