A zoo is any premises where wild animals are kept (except a pet shop or circus) for the public to see. If you wish to run a zoo, you must have a licence.
How much it costs
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoo licence | £1083.30 |
| Local Authority inspection time | £37.80 per hour |
| Veterinary and DEFRA inspections are at cost |
Validity
A licence lasts for a 6 years. A renewal letter will automatically be sent before the current licence expires.
How to apply
You will need to:
- log into your MyAccount (or create an account if you don't already have one) to complete the form. MyAccount is an easier and quicker way to interact with us and is available 24/7
- complete the application form
- pay the appropriate fee
Download Form for notice of intention to apply for a zoo licence (DOC, 28KB)
What happens next?
We'll get in touch if we need any additional information, otherwise we'll aim to process your application in 5 working days.
Bear in mind that part of processing your application involves consulting with various authorities such as the police, fire department, and environmental health, and in some circumstances they can take up to 28 days to fully review your application and get back to us.
After reviewing the application and receiving positive responses from consultees, we will aim to organise an inspection of the premises in 10 working days.
Premises inspection
An officer from our Environmental Health team, Defra, and a vet will inspect your premises to make sure that:
- animals in enclosures, are in a suitable environment
- health, safety and welfare standards are met
If your premises pass inspection, you will get a licence. The standards of inspection will also be conditions of the licence, but we may add others.
Further inspections
We may inspect at any time to make sure you are meeting the conditions of the licence.