A licence is required for anyone who sells animals as pets or with a view to them being resold as pets. This includes any internet business of selling pets plus anyone who supplies pets for sale, either to a third party or directly to the public.

Selling animals as pets as a business is prohibited in any part of a street, in a public place, or at a stall or barrow in a market.

Each premises will be risk rated at inspection and will be given a star rating from 1 to 5, which will also determine whether the premises is granted a licence for 1, 2 or 3 years. An explanation of the star rating procedure can be viewed by clicking on the document at the side of this page.

 

To make an application, complete the online form (see link at the side of the page - you can register with our website or use the "Guest" button, which does not require you to sign in).

Please note that an application for a licence renewal must be received more than 10 weeks before the current licence expires. Failure to do so may result in the licence not being renewed in time and, thus a period where the business can not operate.

Please contact us on 01962 848097 (or email eh@winchester.gov.uk) if you have any queries.

 

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force on 1st October 2018. You must comply with all of the minimum standards in the guidance below to achieve a licence and as well as a physical inspection of the premises, evidence of all relevant paperwork and qualifications will need to be seen at your inspection;

Selling Animals As Pets

Click on the blue writing and it will link you to the appropriate website

The fees for Selling Animals as Pets for 2024/25 (as revised in accordance with the Regulations) are £258 although, if a vet or an expert is needed for the inspection, the charge will be passed on to the applicant. It is Winchester City Council's decision as to whether a vet will be required for the inspection.

Note that, should the licensee apply for a reinspection, this must be done in writing, setting out the work that has been completed and the reasons for the reinspection. The full fee is payable for a reinspection.

Methods of Payment:

1. Credit/Debit card. Telephone 01962 848097 and your details will be taken.
2. Online. Use the blue Pay button on our home page. Choose Miscellaneous Payments. A new window appears. Choose Miscellaneous Payments again. Choose Animal Welfare from the list. Select the appropriate licence type and click on it. You are taken to an online form. Fill in the details and put the name of your premises in the message box. Use the continue button to move to the next page and make your payment.

Note: If you have trouble paying for your licence at the time of application, please contact us on 01962 848097

Fees are for application and, once an application has been made, are unlikely to be refunded unless there are exceptional circumstances. Requests for refunds will be considered by the Environmental Health Manager.

Appointed veterinary surgeons and practitioners, appropriately qualified local authority officers, or other competent persons authorised by the local authority may inspect licensed premises and any animals at such premises at any reasonable time. Note that, if a veterinary surgeon or practitioner is required to attend an inspection, these charges will be passed on to the applicant in addition to the Council's licence fees.

There will normally only be one inspection for each licence granted but further inspections may be made to check that licence conditions have been complied with, if a complaint is received about the premises, or if there is any concern about the condition of the premises, or the welfare of an animal at the premises.

For new applicants, there may be works or paperwork to be completed following inspection before a licence can be granted. These will need to be completed as quickly as possible and, in the event that the applicant has not completed required works within a year of inspection, the licence will automatically be refused.

Unlicensed premises may also be inspected in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Please contact us on 01962 848097 (or email eh@winchester.gov.uk) if you have any queries.

A licence will be refused;

• If the applicant is under 18.
• If the applicant has been disqualified from holding an animal licence or keeping an animal, or has had a licence revoked under scetion 15 of the Regulations.
• If conditions of the licence are not met.

The applicant may appeal to a First tier Tribunal if the Council refuses to grant or renew a licence

A licence may be varied, suspended or revoked by the Council for the following reasons;

• the licence conditions are not being complied with
• there has been a breach of the Regulations
• the information supplied by the licensee is false or misleading, or
• it is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal.

Any significant change to the premises may require a variation to your licence. The licensee may request a variation or the Council can impose one. This will involve a small charge. Please contact us on eh@winchester.gov.uk if you think a variation may be needed.

The licensee may appeal to a First tier Tribunal if the Council has varied, suspended or revoked a licence.

 

There is a list on the right hand side of the page. The list is usually updated twice a year.