Licence for selling animals as pets
Selling pet animals as a business from a market or stall is prohibited under Section 2 of the Pet Animals Act 1951.
You need a licence if you provide as part of your business:
- The import, distribution and sale of animals by a business.
- Businesses or individuals operating from domestic premises for commercial purposes (it should be noted that many may not be listed with Companies House).
- Premises that are open to members of the public or to other businesses where animals are available for purchase.
Activities that do not need a licence
- If you are a dog breeder, you will need a dog breeding licence.
- If you breed animals as a hobby, for pleasure, exhibition for prize, or for education, study or scientific advancement and occasionally sell a small number of surplus offspring/excess stock where no or very little profit is made.
- Organised events where people meet to sell surplus animals they have bred, or animals that are surplus to their requirements.
- Aquacultural production businesses that are authorised under regulation 5(1) of the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009, and that are inspected by the Fish Health Inspectorate
Licence conditions
You must be able to meet the general and specific conditions before we will issue you with a licence.
Defra guidance
Applicants should read the applicable activity guidance documents and the local authority procedural guidance. Officers refer to these documents during the application process. The guidance sets out the higher standards, the risk rating and how they are applied. Compliance to the lowest risk rating (highest star rating) ensures a longer licence (up to three years) and better value for money. Note: The maximum star rating for a new licence is two years (three stars) and exhibition licenses are not star rated and are issued for three years.
Documentation required
If your documentation is correct, you will receive a lower risk rating and you are more likely to be compliant with the licence conditions. All the appropriate documentation is requested as attachments to the application form. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the required documentation in the Defra guidance.
Officers use checklists to feedback on documentation requirements. Absence of any required documentation in most cases will result in a lower risk rating, not the refusal of a licence.
See the overview page for the checklists available.