Selling animals as pets

Check if you need a licence

You need a licence if your business imports, distributes or sells animals. This includes:

• businesses registered with Companies House
• an individual or business operating from domestic premises (even if not listed with Companies House)
• premises open to members of the public or other businesses where animals are for sale

You do not need a licence if:

• you’re an individual who breeds animals as a hobby, for pleasure, exhibition, or for education, study or scientific advancement and you occasionally sell a small number of surplus offspring or excess stock
• you attend events where people meet to sell animals that are surplus to their requirements, whether or not this is open to the public
• you have an Aquacultural Production Business authorised under regulation 5(1) of the Aquatic Animal Health Regulations 2009 and are inspected by the Fish Health Inspectorate

For low-value species that may produce large numbers of excess stock, we’ll give consideration to the value of the stock and the likelihood that the seller is making a profit.

Find out more about the standards and conditions for selling animals on GOV.UK

Apply for a licence 

For a new licence or to renew a licence, complete an application form (ODT, 50KB). Send it to us using the details at the bottom of this page, along with any supporting documentation.

You must submit an application to renew a licence 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.

We also recommend you check if you need planning permission for your business.

Fees

Barrow area

For both new applications and renewals the total fee is £278 plus vet fees. This is made up of a
£166 application fee and a £112 grant fee.

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

Eden area

The application fee for a new licence is £52 and £45.50 for a licence renewal, which you must pay when you apply. Before we issue your licence we'll send you an invoice for an additional fee for the initial inspection, interim inspection and risk assessment. This fee is determined from the inspecting officer’s admin and inspection time at a rate of £48 per hour. There may also be an additional vet inspection fee, if appropriate.

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

New applications are £246 and renewals are £228 plus vet fees.

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 we issue a licence, an officer will arrange to visit your premises to inspect your business. This is to see how you look after the animals in your care. We’ll establish if your business can comply with the conditions attached to the licence and assess you to ensure you’re a fit and proper person to carry out the licensable activities. For example, you need a good understanding of the risks involved in the care of the animals and will have to show extensive risk assessments, written policies and procedures during the inspection.

A veterinary inspection may also be carried out for which you'll need to pay an additional fee.

Following these visits we’ll complete a risk assessment and if your licence is granted, we’ll issue a star rating ranging from one to five stars. Depending on the star rating the licence will be issued for one, two or three years.

Contact our Licensing Team