Animal licences
West Suffolk Council is responsible for issuing a range of animal licences to ensure that owners of animals and establishments comply with the required standards.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals)(England) Regulations 2018 introduced a single animal activities licence which covers dog breeding, dog boarding (including commercial kennelling, home boarding and daycare), cat boarding, pet vending and riding establishments.
We recommend that, if you are currently operating an animal establishment or are planning to open such a business in the future, you familiarise yourself with any changes which may have an impact on your business.
Please see the DEFRA guidance below to assist businesses in meeting the requirements set out in the regulations:
- GOV.UK - Cat boarding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK - Dog day care licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK - Home boarding for dogs licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK - Dog kennel boarding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK Dog breeding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK - Hiring out horses licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK - Selling animals as pets licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- GOV.UK Keeping or training animals for exhibition licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (February 2022)
- The appeals process for animal licensing ratings
- Re-inspection process
If you require a new licence or wish to renew an existing licence, you will need to complete a single profile form as an applicant and an application form for each activity you engage in. Licence lengths are determined by the star rating which is based on your risk rating score and whether you meet higher standards. New licence holders will automatically be classed as high risk-this is explained in the guidance documents. For exhibiting animals, all licences granted will be for a three year period.
The application fee is payable on application and the grant fee is payable once you have been inspected in order to grant your licence. If you have multiple activities, for example you have kennels for boarding and you breed dogs, you will pay the total amount for the activity which has the highest fee, plus 50 per cent of each additional activity fee. Vets' fees will be charged to the applicant if you intend to conduct dog breeding or horse hiring activities. The applicant is responsible for paying for the council designated veterinarian to inspect the premises; the veterinarian will accompany a licensing officer, but payment must be made to the veterinarian prior to the inspection taking place.
If you apply for any of the activities listed, please fill in the appropriate application form below and return with the correct fee and a completed applicant profile form (please also see the separate fee document below).