If you are new to the whole or an area of animal activities licensing and require advice and guidance on applying for a Zoo licence, we offer a pre-application advice service. The fee for this service is £100 plus VAT.
Please note: we cannot offer pre-application advice to any person who is subject to compliance/intervention or enforcement action by the Licensing Team.
If you would like to book a pre-application advice meeting please email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk.
To apply for a zoo licence, the applicant must complete the notice of intention form to start the process of applying for a zoo licence. This online form is available below:
The applicant must then publish the notice in one local and one national newspaper and display a copy of the notice at the site of the proposed zoo. The licensing team will keep a copy of the notice for members of the public to view free of charge at any reasonable time during office hours.
Not less than 2 months later the applicant must complete and submit the zoo application to the licensing team along with the fee of £2075 or £950 for a small zoo (6 year licence) or £650 for a small zoo (4 year licence).
The licensing team will then consider the application and may recommend that the zoo is suitable for an exemption under Section 14(1) or Section 14(2) if its size and nature suggest that it is eligible.
A dispensation under Section 14(1) is where the licensing authority decides that the collection of animals is too small, or the types of animals present do not warrant a licence, ie a rough guide is less than 120 animals, no birds of prey or wild mammals.
A dispensation under Section 14(2) is if the operator of the zoo informs the secretary of state that the zoo is too small for a full team of inspectors then a dispensation can be granted, and the inspection is then carried out by just one zoo inspector plus an officer from the licensing team.
Dispensations can be revoked if the zoo breaks the terms of their dispensations.
A tacit consent does not apply to this application, meaning that your application will not be automatically granted after a specified period of time. Each application must be considered on its own merits.
Applying
You can notify the licensing team using the online form below of your intention to apply for a zoo licence:
Intention to apply for a zoo licence
You can then apply for a zoo licence using the below form
Apply for a zoo licence
Zoo Licence conditions (pdf 49kb)
Model conditions (pdf 56kb)
Please note: your application cannot be processed without your supporting documents.
For further advice on the application process please contact the licensing team, by using one of the following ways:
Contact the council
Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk.
Processing
The licensing team will then organise an inspection with an approved inspector and consult with the applicant about any proposed conditions.
The licensing team must take into account any valid objections and consider the inspectors report before deciding to grant or refuse the licence. The zoo will be required to meet the standards set out in the zoo licence conditions below.
A licence will be issued for 4 years and an inspection must take place within the first year of the period of the licence and again no later than 6 month before the expiry of the 4 year licence. A local authority officer will also complete an informal inspection every year.
The licence must be displayed at all public entrances to the zoo.
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 merit.