Animal Licensing Policy
Buckinghamshire Council’s Animal Licensing Policy implemented on 1 April 2024.
Animal licences
Animal boarding licence
Apply for a licence if you board dogs overnight, provide day care for dogs or board cats in purpose built cattery units.
Public register of licensed animal businesses
Public register of animal activity businesses licensed within Buckinghamshire.
Animal licence fees
Licence fees for dog breeding, dog and cat boarding, hiring out horses, keeping wild dangerous animals and operating a zoo.
Dog breeding licence
Apply for a licence if you are either breeding 3 or more litters of puppies in a 12 month period and/or breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs.
Hiring out horses licence
Apply for a licence if horses or ponies are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction.
Selling animals as pets licence
Apply for a licence if you're a pet shop or a business selling animals over the internet. Includes fees and information about premises inspections.
Keep or train animals for exhibition licence
Apply for a licence if you keep or train animals for entertainment, educational purposes or to an audience or via electronic media.
Report an unlicensed animal business
How to report an animal business who may be trading without a licence.
Dangerous wild animal licence
Apply for a licence to keep certain breeds of wild dangerous animals. Includes what it costs and how to apply.
Zoo licence
How to apply for a licence if you're opening a zoo. Includes costs, what to do before you apply and how to appeal.
Primate Licences
Important information for private keepers of primates.
Pre-inspection checklists for animal licences
View a checklist of things you may need to do before an animal licencing inspection.