Animal Licensing and Welfare
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List of licensed premises
An updated list of all the animal welfare licensed premises.
Animal licensing regulations
On 1 October 2018 The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force.
These have replaced a number of pieces of existing legislation at the end of 2018 and have provided a new single licensing regime for a number of animal licensing activities.
Those undertaking the following activities will need to be licensed under the new regime, please find:
- Selling animals as pets
- Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs (including day care)
- Hiring out horses
- Breeding dogs
- Keeping or training animals for exhibition
A ratings system will also be introduced whereby licence holders will be given a rating based on specified criteria.
Zoos and Dangerous and Wild Animals will continue to be licensed under existing legislation.
Current licence holders
Licences held under the old system relating to pet shops, animal boarding establishments, riding establishments or dog breeding will continue in force for the rest of their term.
Licence holders will then need to make an application for a licence under the new regime and comply with the new requirements. We advise that current licence holders consider the new regulations before their renewal date.
New regulations
Guidance notes
Licensing information
Premises where animals are kept for certain purposes need to be licensed by the council.
These are:
- Animal boarding establishments
- Dog breeding establishments
- Pet shops
- Riding establishments
- Zoo and dangerous wild animal licensing
Officers from the Licensing Team inspect licensed premises annually to ensure that they comply with licence conditions.
The standards relate to:
- Safety
- Security
- Infectious disease control
- The suitability of the licence holder
The aim is to:
- Ensure the welfare of animals
- Prevent the spread of disease
- Ensure the safety of the public visiting these premises
Periodic inspections are carried out to confirm standards are maintained. We will also investigate all complaints.
How much do licences cost?
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 Fees Structure from 1 April 2023
| LICENCE TYPE | APPLICATION FEE | GRANT OF LICENCE FEE | RE-INSPECTION FEE |
| Arranging Boarding for Cats/Dogs | £160 | N/A | N/A |
| Boarding for Cats /Dogs - Kennels | £336 | £234 | £195 |
| Boarding for Dogs – Home Boarding | £303 | £185 | £172 |
| Boarding for Dogs – Day Care | £336 | £234 | £205 |
| Breeding Dogs (ex Vet fee) | £303 | £185 | £172 |
| Hiring out Horses (ex Vet fee) | £402 | £285 | £274 |
| Selling Animals as Pets | £315 | £215 | £185 |
| Exhibition of Animals | £303 | £185 | £172 |
| LICENCE TYPE | Application to vary the existing licence |
| Amendment to the licence/paperwork which does not require a visit | £26 |
| Amendment to Licence requiring an officer to visit | £50 per hour |
Dangerous and Wild Animal Licence Fee
| Part A Application Fee | Part B Grant Licence | |
| Dangerous and Wild Animal Licence | £384 | £271 plus vet fees. |
Zoos, Dangerous Wild Animals and Primate Licensing Requirements
The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 applies to any establishment - other than a circus or pet shop - where wild animals are kept for public exhibition on more than seven days in any consecutive twelve months.
Licences are granted initially for four years and thereafter are normally renewable every six years.
More information:
Paper application:
Print out and complete the form below. Cheques are payable to ‘Mid Sussex District Council’.
The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2023 will come into force on 6 April 2025.
The legislation brings in a licensing scheme, setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide zoo-level welfare standards will be able to keep primates.
Existing private primate keepers can apply for a primate licence from April 2025 and, from 6 April 2026, all private primate keepers and people proposing to keep a primate will be required to hold a licence, valid for a maximum of three years, and undergo reassessment to renew their permission to keep their animals.
A person who requires a primate licence and keeps a primate in England without one will be committing an offence under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of up to six months, a fine or both.
Failure to comply with licence conditions could result in an unlimited fine, removal of the primate or imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months.
"Primate" means an animal of any species, other than human beings, that belongs to the Primate order of mammals. This includes – but is not limited to – any species of monkey, ape, lemur, loris or tarsier.
What’s next?
Existing primate keepers will have until 6 April 2026 to reach compliance with the welfare and licensing standards.
From 6 April 2026 all private primate keepers will be required to hold a licence, valid for a maximum of three years, and undergo reassessment to renew their permission to keep these animals. A fee will be payable.
We are expecting DEFRA to issue further guidance in relation to primate licences and this webpage will be updated following this. Please check back soon for any changes or additional information.
Contact us
Licensing
Tel: 01444-477419
Email: licensing@midsussex.gov.uk