Licence fees
The fees for an animal activity licence are split into two parts:
- Application fee: paid when you apply. This covers the cost of reviewing your application.
- Grant fee: paid once your application is approved. This covers the remaining costs.
The application fee is the same whether you’re applying for a new licence or renewing an existing one.
Providing boarding for cats and dogs (day care / home boarding / kennels and catteries)
| Fees | 1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £317 | £317 | £317 |
| Grant fee | £239 | £263 | £287 |
| Total cost | £556 | £580 | £604 |
Breeding dogs
| Fees | 1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £337 | £337 | £337 |
| Grant fee | £259 | £263 | £287 |
| Total cost | £596 | £620 | £644 |
In addition to the licence fees, the operator will be invoiced for:
- The full cost of the initial vet inspection as part of the application process.
- The compliance vet inspection, which takes place once during the licence period.
Selling animals as pets
| Fees | 1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £317 | £317 | £317 |
| Grant fee | £239 | £283 | £307 |
| Total cost | £556 | £580 | £604 |
Hiring out horses
| Fees | 1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £337 | £337 | £337 |
| Grant fee | £259 | £281 | £504 |
| Total cost | £596 | £718 | £841 |
As part of the licensing process, the operator will be invoiced for:
- The full cost of the vet inspection carried out during the application.
- The annual compliance vet inspections during the licence period.
Keeping or training animals for exhibition
| Fees | 3 Years |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £317 |
| Grant fee | £287 |
| Total cost | £604 |
If your application is successful, all licences for keeping or training animals for exhibitions will last for three years.
Fees for combined activities and other services
Combined licensable activities
If you carry out more than one licensable activity (for example, dog boarding and dog breeding), you will:
- Pay the highest total fee for one activity.
- Pay an additional fee of £79 for each extra activity to cover the cost of preparing extra reports.
Rerating fees (after licence is issued)
If you request a new star rating after your licence has been issued, the fee depends on the type of activity:
- Boarding cats and dogs: £188
- Dog breeding: £208
- Selling animals as pets: £188
- Hiring out horses: £208
Note: If your licence is extended (e.g. from 1 year to 3 years), you may also need to pay extra enforcement costs.
Licence changes
If you want to reduce the number of animals or remove an activity from your licence, and no inspection is needed, there is an administrative fee of £75.
Licence transfer due to death
If a licence holder passes away, their personal representative can take over the licence. They must inform the local authority within 28 days.
There is an administrative fee of £50 for this transfer.
Copy of a licence
Administrative fee: £21
