Animal welfare licensing

A licence is needed if you want to work with animals as a business.

You can apply for an:

  • animal boarding cats and dogs licence
  • home boarding dogs licence
  • doggy day care licence
  • breeding of dogs licence
  • pet shop licence
  • horse riding establishment licence
  • performing animals licence

Before applying you will need to check the licence requirements. Specific guidance on licence conditions is available to read for each licence type.

New licence fees

The fees for each licence type come in two parts:

  • part A - needs to be paid when submitting your application form
  • part B - is paid once licence has been approved

Further information on the type of licence, requirements and fees are shown below.

Licence type

Running a kennel or cattery

An animal boarding licence is needed to run a kennel or cattery.    

Licence requirements

Guidance

The current February 2022 guidance, can be found on the legislation and guidance page on the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) website external link:    

  • e. Providing Boarding for Cats Guidance
  • f. Providing Boarding for Dogs Guidance
  • g. Providing Home Boarding for Dogs Guidance

Fees

Animal boarding - new licence fees
Licence typePart A feesPart B fees
Home boarding
£281.14£163.61
Commercial boarding (up to 10 cats or dogs)£281.14£163.61
Commercial boarding (11 to 25 cats or dogs)£318.62£182.58
Commercial boarding (26 or more cats or dogs)£432.18£239.24

Doggy day care

A license is needed for doggy day care.    

Licence requirements

Guidance

The current February 2022 guidance, can be found on the legislation and guidance page on the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) website external link:    

  • h. Providing Day Care for Dogs Guidance

Fees

Animal boarding - new license fees
License typePart A feesPart B fees
Domestic Doggy day care£281.14£163.61
Doggy day care (1 to 10 dogs)£281.14£163.61
Doggy day care (11 to 25 dogs)£318.62£182.58
Doggy day care (26 plus dogs)£432.18£239.24
    

Dog breeding

A dog breeding licence is needed if you breed or sell dogs as a business.    

Licence requirements

Guidance

The current February 2022 guidance, can be found on the legislation and guidance page on the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) website external link:    

  • d. Dog Breeding Guidance

Fees

Dog breeding
Licence typePart APart B
Dog breeding (up to 5 dogs)£312.00£182.58
Dog breeding (up to 10 dogs)£356.55£201.49
Dog breeding (11 or more dogs)£432.18£239.24
    

A vet inspection is also needed. The fees for the inspection are set by the vet.    

Selling animals as pets

A pet shop licence is needed if you want to run a business selling animals as pets. This includes:    

  • commercial selling of pet animals including pet shops
  • businesses selling animals over the internet

Licence requirements

Guidance

The current February 2022 guidance, can be found on the legislation and guidance page on the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) website external link:    

  • i. Selling Animals as Pets

Fees

Pet shop - new licence fees
Licence typePart A feesPart B fees
Pet Sales (small or single species)£281.14£163.61
Pet Sales (large or multiple species)£356.55£201.49
    

Hiring out horses

A horse riding establishments licence is needed to hire out horses or donkeys for riding or riding instruction.    

Licence requirements

Guidance

The current February 2022 guidance, can be found on the legislation and guidance page on the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) website external link:    

  • j. Hiring Out Horses

Fees

Riding establishment - new licence fees
Licence typePart A feesPart B fees
Horse riding establishments (up to 5 horses or donkeys)£281.14£163.61
Horse riding establishments (6 to 15 horses or donkeys)£318.62£182.58
Horse riding establishments (16 or more horses or donkeys)£432.18£239.24
    

A vet inspection is also needed. The fees for the inspection are set by the vet. An inspection will take place each year for the duration of the licence.

Training or keeping animals for exhibition

A performing animals licence is needed for mobile animal exhibits which visit schools, parties and fairs.    

Licence requirements

Guidance

The current February 2022 guidance, can be found on the legislation and guidance page on the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) website external link:    

  • k. Defra Guidance Notes for Exhibiting Animals

Fees

Performing animals - licence fees
Licence typeNew licence
Animal exhibitor and trainer (single species)
£281.14
Animal exhibitor and trainer (multiple species)£318.62

How to apply

Please contact the Animal Welfare Team for an application form.

The completed form should be returned with all supporting documents and part A of the fee for your licence type. Fee payments can be made with a credit or debit card by calling the team on 0113 378 5959.

It can take ten weeks from application to issuing a licence. If you do not hear from us within 28 working days of submitting your application please contact us.

Renewals

The duration of your licence will be set at your first inspection. You must renew your licence 12 weeks before the expiry date. Contact the team for an application form.

Renewal fees

Running a kennel or cattery

Renewal fees
License typePart A feesPart B fees
Home boarding£242.89£163.61
Commercial boarding (up to 10 cats or dogs)£242.89£163.61
Commercial boarding (11 to 25 cats or dogs)£255.51£182.58
Commercial boarding (26 or more cats or dogs)£318.62£182.58

Doggy day care

renewal fees
License typePart A feesPart B fees
Doggy day care£242.89£163.61
Doggy day care - up to 10 cats or dogs£242.89£163.61
Doggy day care - 11 to 25 cats or dogs£255.51£182.58
Doggy day care - 26 or more cats or dogs£318.62£182.58

Dog breeding

Renewal fees
License typePart A feesPart B fees
Dog breeding - 1 to 5 dogs£280.76£163.61
Dog breeding - 6 to 10 dogs£318.62£182.58
Dog breeding - 11 or more dogs£318.62£182.58

Selling pets as animals

Renewal fees
License typePart A feesPart B fees
Pet sales - small or single species£242.89
£163.61
Pet sales - large or multiple species£280.76
£163.61

Hiring out horses

Renewal fees
License typePart A feesPart B fees
Horse riding establishments - up to 5 horses or donkeys£261.85£163.61
Horse riding establishments - 6 to 10 horses or donkeys£280.76
£163.61
Horse riding establishments - 16 or more horses or donkeys£356.50£201.49

Training or keeping animals for exhibition

Renewal fees
License typeRenewal fees
Animal exhibitor and trainer - single species£242.89
Animal exhibitor and trainer - multiple species£280.76

For zoo licences or to keep a dangerous or wild animal, contact the Animal Welfare team.

Contact us

Please return your completed application form to:

Animal Welfare Team
Environmental Health Services
Seacroft Ring Road Depot
Seacroft
Leeds
LS14 1NZ

Email

Phone

0113 378 5959
(Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm)

Use this form to give us your comments. Do not use it to give us personal information - please contact us if you need to get in touch.