Dog breeding licence
On this page
Information about how to apply for a licence, renew your licence and how to change the details on your licence.
When will I need a licence?
You will need a dog breeding licence if you:
- run a business breeding and selling dogs
- breed three or more litters and sell the puppies
You don't need a licence if you breed dogs but don't sell them, but you will need to provide evidence of this. DEFRA provides further guidance about dog breeding.
Penalties
If you breed dogs without a licence, or break the conditions of an existing licence, you could be fined an unlimited amount or go to prison for up to 6 months.
Conditions of the licence
You must show that you can meet the minimum standards set out by the government. The council and a registered vet will visit your premises before we grant a licence.
The conditions of the licence include:
- suitable accommodation
- displaying your licence clearly on the premises and online
How long will the licence last?
A licence may last for up to three years. The length of your licence will depend on the star rating we give you after our visit.
See our welfare standards page for more information on the star rating and what this means to you.
The first time you apply for a licence, we class you as 'high risk.' This is because we don't have any compliance history to help us assess your application. Because of this you will not be able to secure a five-star licence on a first application.
Fees
The licence fee is £160. You will be able to pay by debit or credit card when you apply online. If you are unable to complete an online payment we will accept a cheque. Contact us if you would like further details about paying by cheque.
The fee for a vet inspection is not fixed. We charge based on such things as your site location and size of premises. We will invoice you for the cost of the visit to your premises. Once you have received the invoice you can pay it using our online payment service.
If you don't pay the invoice we may not issue your licence. If we have already issued a licence, then we may suspend or revoke your licence.
How to apply
To complete your application you will need:
- your business details
- details of the dogs you are breeding
- description of the accommodation
- insurance and vet details
- debit or credit card to make a payment
Licence renewal
You need to apply to renew an existing licence at least ten weeks prior to its expiry date. We will send you a reminder letter about renewal, and the fee that applies, before your licence expires. You can pay the renewal fee by cheque or over the phone. If you fail to renew your licence and continue to operate as a business, you will be liable to the fines and penalties listed above.
Change licence details
To change personal details such as your address or name on your licence, please contact us by email.
