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Pet sales licences

Can you sell pet animals? How to apply and pay for a pet sales licence, who else you may need to contact, how to renew or change your pet sales licence, who regulates pet sales and what happens if you don't apply?

Can I sell pet animals?

Yes, but you will require a licence if you want to sell animals as pets, or sell them to be resold as pets in the course of a business.

If you are not sure if you fall into this category, you can email the licensing team for clarification:

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

How do I apply for a pet shop licence?

If you require further advice on applying for a pet sales licence, we offer a pre-application advice service, and the fee for this service is £50 plus VAT. 

To book in for the pre-application advice service please email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk.

Applying

To apply for a pet sales licence you must complete the online application form below 

Please note: the online form will require payment at the end of the application, and failure to make the payment online will mean the licensing team does not receive your application to sell animals as pets. 

Apply online for a licence to sell animals as pets

Alternatively, you can complete the hard copy form below and submit it to the licensing team with all supporting documents and the appropriate fee.

Any application made without the supporting documents will not be accepted. 

Application for a licence to sell pets (word 209kb)

Fees

Animal activities licence fees (pdf 56kb)

Processing

Once you have submitted your completed application form and fee and supporting documents, you will be visited by a licensing officer who will inspect your premises. A vet's inspection may also be required depending on the numbers and species types. 

You are required to meet the standards set out in the Animal Welfare ( Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulation 2018.

Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 (pdf 5mb)

Guidance for selling animals as pets (pdf 993kb)

If you would like further advice about the condition requirements you can email the licensing team:

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

If your premises meet the required standard, your pet sales licence will be granted and a licence will be forwarded to you within ten weeks of your complete application. 

You must then display the licence on the premises in clear view of the public.

If your premises do not meet the required standard, the officer who completed the inspection will tell you why and arrange to revisit after you have done further work in order to meet the required standard.

A tacit consent does not apply to this application, meaning that your application will not automatically be granted after a specified period of time. Each application must be considered on its own merits. 

How can I pay for a pet shop licence?

You can pay the fee for an animals activities licence by telephone on (01482) 396297.

You may also submit your application form and fee at any customer service centre within the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Who else may I need to contact?

If you are applying for a pet sales licence you may also need to speak to:

How do I renew my pet shop licence?

You should renew your licence 10 weeks before it is due to expire. 

You can apply to renew your licence to sell animals as pets, using the below online form. 

Please note: the form will require payment to be made online, failure to make payment will mean the form will not be received by the licensing team. 

Apply online to renew a licence to sell animals as pets. 

How can I change my pet sales licence?

Please contact us via email at licensing@eastriding.gov.uk for further advice.

Who regulates pet sales?

The licensing team are responsible for the licensing and compliance of pet sales.

If a business holds a licence it should be on display in a prominent position at the premises. If you have concerns about a premises operating under a licence, have a complaint or would like to report a business that you are concerned are operating without a licence you can contact the licensing team, by either:

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Please ensure you provide as much information as you can to help us.

You will be required to give your name and contact details so that we can ensure that the complaint is genuine.

Your details will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed unless the investigation results in a prosecution at which stage your details would have to be disclosed.

What happens if I do not apply for a pet shop licence?

If you sell pet animals without a licence, you may be prosecuted. 

Who is licensed to sell animals as pets in the East Riding?

Public register of licenses to sell pet animals (pdf 26kb)

Updated 28 January 2020.

What do the star ratings really mean?

Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 the local authority now issues a STAR rating to each premises based on a number of factors.

The star rating scheme is set by central government and applies nationally, this works a little different to other start rating schemes because it does not work on a sliding scale.

1 Star: These premises are existing businesses that are failing to meet the minimum standards.

2 Star: These premises do meet all of the mandatory minimum standards, however, they are deemed to be higher risk.

A premises could be deemed at high risk because they are a new operator that has been opened or been taken over in the past 12 months or because of non-compliance such as substantiated complaints within the last 3 years.

3 Star: These premises meet all of the mandatory standards set out in the new regulations and are providing a high level of animal welfare to the animals on the premises. These premises have been inspected to check that they meet satisfactory standards in areas of accommodation and enrichment.

4 Star: These premises meet all of the mandatory standards and a set of higher standards that are specific to the activity they are licensed for. However, they are deemed to be at higher risk. A premises could be deemed at high-risk because they are a new operator that has been opened or taken over in the past 12 months or because of non-compliance such as substantiated complaints within the last 3 years.

5 Star: These premises meet all of the mandatory standards and a set of higher standards that are specific to the activity they are licensed for which are attached.

The higher standards are optional. In some cases existing businesses are unable to meet the higher standards because their business and buildings were already established, in other cases, the operator opts to not undertake the higher standards for other reasons such as they do not wish to provide additional services it requires.

Selling animals as pets Higher Standards: To obtain a 4 or 5 Star rating, the attached criteria must be met:

Higher Standards PDF (150kb)

For more information please find the relevant guidance document attached above. If you have any queries regarding any information held in this register please contact the licensing team at: 

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk.