The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 came into force in 1984. This law requires the inspection and licensing of all zoos in Great Britain.

It aims to ensure that, where animals are kept in enclosures, they are provided with a suitable environment to provide an opportunity to express most normal behaviour.

What does the law cover?

A zoo is defined in the act as being 'an establishment where wild animals are kept for exhibition... to which members of the public have access, with or without charge for admission, on more than seven days in any period of twelve consecutive months'.

The wide scope of this definition means that licensed zoos range from traditional urban zoos and safari parks to small specialist collections such as butterfly houses and aquaria.

The law recognises this wide range of establishments by allowing dispensations to be granted for small zoos.

Dispensations for these types of collections reduce the number of inspectors to a reasonable level for a small establishment, and do not in any way weaken a zoo's obligation to achieve the levels of animal welfare and modern public safety set out in the Secretary of State's standards.

The law does not extend to circuses, or to pet shops, both of which are covered by other legislation.

Apply by post

Before you apply you are strongly encouraged to contact our licensing team on 01905 822799 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

document Download Notice of Intention to Apply for a Zoo Licence application form (203 KB)

document Download Zoo Licence Application form (176 KB)

document Download Zoo Licence Renewal Form (177 KB)

You will need to complete an application form, and send it with the appropriate fee and any documents referred to on the form to: Licensing, Wychavon District Council, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT

The current fee to apply for a zoo licence can be found on our Licensing Fees and Charges page.

You must also meet the costs of the vet inspection that is required as part of the application process.

You can find further information on zoos on the GOV.UK website.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please get in touch.

There are certain wild animals that are considered to be dangerous and so if you want to keep such an animal, the law says you need a licence from us to do so.

This law was originally introduced in response to public concern about the keeping of dangerous pets, especially big cats.

It aims to ensure that where private individuals keep dangerous wild animals they do so in circumstances which create no risk to the public and also safeguards the welfare of the animals.

You need a licence if you want to keep any animal which appears on a list decided by the Government:  pdf Read list of animals requiring a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence (48 KB)

We cannot grant a licence unless we are satisfied that:

• It is not contrary to the public interest on the grounds of safety, nuisance or otherwise to grant the licence
• The applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence under the act
• The animal concerned, will at all times be held in secure accommodation which is suitable in size, construction, temperature, lighting, ventilation, drainage and cleanliness
• The animal be supplied with adequate and suitable food, drink and bedding materials and be visited at suitable intervals
• The animal is adequately protected in the event of an emergency
• The prevention and control of diseases is addressed
• The animal is able to exercise adequately.

Apply by post

To apply for a licence by post you need to complete an application form, and send it with the appropriate fee and the documents referred to on the form to: Licensing, Wychavon District Council, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT

document Download the Dangerous Wild Animal licence application form. (123 KB)

View Licensing Fees and Charges page for the current fee to apply for a licence to keep dangerous wild animals. 

A vet will be nominated by us to inspect the animal(s), and report back to us with his findings. He will charge us a fee for the inspection which is re-charged to the person applying for the licence.

Licences for dangerous wild animals remain in force for two years from the date of grant and then expire.

If you are aggrieved by us refusing to grant you a licence or are aggrieved by any licence condition we impose, you can appeal to a Magistrates' Court.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 took effect on 1 October 2018.

The regulations were made by the Secretary of State under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and introduced a new licensing regime for anyone carrying out one or more of the following licensable activities.

• Selling animals as pets
• Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
• Hiring out horses
• Breeding dogs
• Keeping or training animals for exhibition

The regulations repealed and replaced the previous licensing regimes that were in place under the following pieces of legislation:

• Pet Animals Act 1951
• Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
• Riding Establishments Acts 1964 & 1970
• Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 & Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999
• Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925

Anyone carrying on any of the above licensable activities in the Council’s area requires a licence from the Council to do so.

Guidance

The Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published procedural guidance for local authorities in relation to the new regulations, along with guidance notes on the conditions that will apply to licences issued to authorise the different licensable activities.

The guidance notes for each licensable activity also provide guidance on whether an individual requires a licence or not, which will depend on their individual circumstances.

The procedural guidance and other guidance notes can be downloaded from the Worcestershire Regulatory Services website.

Or directly from the DEFRA website.

Apply by post

The application form should be completed and returned with the relevant fee and documents referred to on the form to: Wychavon District Council, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT

pdf Download the application form for an animal activity licence (266 KB)

Details of the fees that need to be paid when applying for a licence can be found here:  Licensing Fees - Wychavon District Council

Depending on which licensable activities you are applying for a licence for, we may be required to appoint a vet to inspect the premises.

The costs of any required vet inspection are NOT covered by the application or licence fees and must be paid for by the applicant separately.

If your application requires us to appoint a vet, you will be invoiced by Worcestershire Regulatory Services to recover the costs they incur in relation to the vet’s inspection and the production of their report.

Star Rating Scheme

The Procedural Guidance describes the risk-based system that must be used when issuing licences under the Regulations with the exception of Keeping or Training Animals for Exhibition where all licences are issued for 3 years.

Use of this system determines both the length of the licence and the star rating that will be awarded. Local authorities in England are expected to follow it in full.

pdf Read further guidance on the star rating scheme (613 KB) .

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please get in touch.

Dangerous Wild Animals and Zoos

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 do not affect the licensing of those who keep dangerous wild animals or operate zoos.

These continue to be licensed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and the Zoo Licensing Act 1981

For more information on obtaining a licence to keep dangerous wild animals or operate a zoo:

• Read about dangerous wild animals
• Learn more about Zoo licence

If you want to make a collection for a charitable purpose by making visits from house to house to appeal for money, other property (for example clothes) or to sell things you need a house to house collection licence from us.

Charities that hold a Cabinet Office order of exemption are not required to apply to us for a licence. However, they are requested to advise us in writing that they have an order of exemption along with the date and location of their collections.

Having received this information we can try and avoid collections from clashing with one another.

Apply online via GOV.UK

Apply by post

To apply by post for a licence you will need to complete the following form:  document View House to House Collection Application form (197 KB)

The form should then be returned to us at: Licensing, Wychavon District Council, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT

There is no fee payable when applying for a house to house collection licence.

Will tacit consent apply?

No, it is in the public interest that we consider and process all applications.

After the collection has taken place

After your collection has taken place you must provide confirmation of the amount of money you have collected and details of any expenses you have incurred as part of the collection.

This must be done within one month of the expiry of the licence.

A return can be submitted online via the GOV website:

Submit return here

Download the House to House Collection return form template:  document View Return form house collection (243 KB)