You can apply online for an animal boarding establishment licence.
Apply for an animal licence
You can apply by downloading the appropriate form below.
- breeding of dogs
- boarding of dogs and cats
- selling animals as pets
- keeping or training animals for exhibitions
- hiring out horses
- home boarding
- dangerous wild animals
- zoo licence application
How to renew
A Licence Holder must apply to renew a licence at least 10 weeks before their current licence expires. This is to avoid incurring a break in the licensable activity. To renew the Licence Holder must complete and submit a form for the relevant licence and submit this with the application fee (which can be paid online or by cheque made payable to Central Bedfordshire Council) to health&safety@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or by post to address given below.
You can apply by downloading the appropriate form below.
- breeding of dogs
- boarding of dogs and cats
- selling animals as pets
- keeping or training animals for exhibitions
- hiring out horses
- home boarding
- dangerous wild animals
- zoo licence application
Forms must be sent to
Public Protection
Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Shefford
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ
Fees and charges
| License activity type(s) | Application fee | Grant fee for 1 year licence | Grant fee for 2 year licence | Grant fee for 3 year licence | Additional cost to applicant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal boarding | £253 | £127 | £189 | £253 |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
| Selling animals as pets | £253 | £127 | £189 | £253 |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
| Keeping animals for exhibition | £253 | £127 | £189 | £253 |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
| Dog breeding | £253 | £127 | £189 | £253 |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
| Hiring out horses | £253 | £127 | £189 | £253 |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
| Additional licensable activity (per activity) | £66 | ||||
| Licence variation requests (per request) | £66 | ||||
| Zoo licence |
£53.79 plus officer costs at current hourly rate (new) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
| Dangerous wild animal licence | £239.90 (new) £101.80 (renew) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
All vet costs will be re-charged to the business Any additional intervention required will be charged at the officer's current hourly rate |
Officer hourly rate: £63
Contact us
Telephone: 0300 300 8307
Email: health&safety@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
If you want to operate a business which deals with animals on the premises then you will need to apply for a licence.
We deal with licences for:
- breeding of dogs
- boarding of dogs (kennels)
- home boarding for dogs
- dog day care
- boarding of cats (cattery)
- selling animals as pets
- keeping or training animals for exhibitions
- hiring out horses
- dangerous wild animals
- zoos
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into effect on 1 October 2018 and have introduced a new licensing regime to replace the licensing and registration regimes for the following;
- animal boarding for catteries and dogs - Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
- dog breeding establishments - Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999
- horse riding establishments - Riding Establishments Act 1964
- performing animals - Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925
- pet shops - Pet Animals Act 1951
If you have a licence under one of the above activities that is in force on 1 October 2018, it will continue to be valid until it is due to expire. You will then need to apply for a licence under the new regulations.
Guidance from DEFRA
The Department for 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 new licence conditions and guidance notes for each of the animal activities covered are set out below:
- breeding of dogs (PDF)
- home boarding for dogs (PDF)
- dog day care (PDF)
- selling animals as pets (PDF)
- keeping or training animals for exhibitions (PDF)
- hiring out horses (PDF)
- dog kennel boarding license (PDF)
- cat boarding license (PDF)
Useful information
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (link opens in new window)
- Animal Welfare Act 2006 (link opens in new window)
The following codes of practice are available from the Canine and Feline Sector Group: