Animal licensing

You need a licence to carry out some activities involving animals. You also need a licence to own dangerous wild animals.

For general advice on the welfare of animals, go to animal care and control.

When you need a licence

You must have a valid licence to carry out any of the following activities involving animals:

• selling animals as pets
• dog breeding
• boarding for dogs or cats – includes kennels, catteries, dog day care and dog boarding at home
• hiring out horses
• keeping or training animals for exhibition

You also need a licence for a:

• dangerous wild animal
• zoo

From 6 April 2026, you will need a licence to keep primates.

You do not need a licence to be a professional dog walker, but you can find guidance on best practice and how to meet legal requirements at Dogs Trust: How to find a good dog walker.

Guidance

You can read government guidance on how to apply for these licences and the conditions you'll need to meet, at:

• GOV.UK: Selling animals as pets licence – guidance
• GOV.UK: Dog breeding licence – guidance
• GOV.UK: Boarding for cats or dogs licence – guidance
• GOV.UK: Hire out horses licence – guidance
• GOV.UK: Keeping or training animals for exhibition licence – guidance

You can read the guidance for licensing authorities at GOV.UK: Animal activities licensing – statutory guidance for local authorities.

Guidance includes:

• the conditions for each licence type that are set at a national level
• what you need to do to meet the conditions
• steps you can take to meet the higher animal welfare standards and get a higher rating

Star ratings

When granted a licence for activities involving animals, premises are given a star rating ranging from 1 to 5, based on their compliance history and the results of their inspection.

A list of premises star ratings is provided below, and as a PDF.