Welfare standards for animal licences

If this is your first application for a licence, you will automatically be considered 'high risk.' This is because we won't have any compliance history to evaluate your application. As a consequence, you will not be able to secure a five-star licence on a first application.

Welfare standards

For some animal licences you will need to prove that you can meet the conditions set out in law, before we grant the licence. The length of the licence we grant depends on the outcome of our inspection and the star rating awarded by us. Once your licence has been granted you will receive a visit or number of visits from us.

Minor failings

These are the ratings awarded to existing businesses that are failing to meet minimum standards.

	Star rating	Length of licence	Visits required
Low or high risk	1*	1 year	Minimum of 1 unannounced visit within 12-month period

Minimum standards

These are laid down in the government schedules and guidance.

	Star rating	Length of licence	Visits required
Low risk	3*	2 years	Minimum of 1 unannounced visit within 24-month period
High risk	2*	1 year	Minimum of 1 unannounced visit within 12-month period

Higher standards

These are laid down in the government schedules and guidance.

	Star rating	Length of licence	Visits required
Low risk	5*	3 years	Minimum of 1 unannounced visit within 36-month period
High risk	4*	2 years	Minimum of 1 unannounced visit within 24-month period

Welfare standards for animal licences