Selling animals as pets
On this page
Information about how to apply for a licence, renewing your licence and changing the details on your licence.
When will I need a licence?
You will need a licence if you want to sell or resell animals. This includes importing animals for distribution and selling on. The licence is applicable to:
- pet shops
- registered businesses
- individuals selling animals from home, online or from a commercial premises
You do not need a licence to sell pedigree animals that you've bred or if the animals you are selling are your own pet's offspring.
Penalties
If you operate without a licence you could be prosecuted, and if convicted, fined an unlimited amount of money or imprisoned for up to six months.
Conditions of the licence
You must:
- display your licence clearly on the property you operate from and on your website
- make sure you do not exceed the maximum number of animals permitted on your licence
- make sure that you and any staff are trained to handle the animals that you are licenced to care for
- have never been convicted of an animal welfare offence or been banned from any animal-related licensed activities
View DEFRA's guidance notes for conditions for selling animals as pets.
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 you receive from us. Before we grant a licence we will inspect your premises to confirm that you can meet the conditions set out in law. You will also need a visit from a qualified vet.
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 fee is £160. You can pay your fee by debit or credit card during the application process. 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
Before you start the online application, you will need:
- your business details
- details of the animals you are looking after
- description of the accommodation
- insurance and vet details
- a credit or debit 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 amount, 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.
How to change licence details
If you want to change any personal details on your licence (such as name or address), please send the details to us by email.
