Selling Animals as Pets

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 requires a number of conditions which must be met before a licence can be issued.  You will need a licence to run a business selling pet animals, including pet shops and selling animals over the internet. Please ensure you have all the required procedures detailed under 'supporting documents' below to submit with your application. 

Please note - The first fee must be paid with your application for it to be processed. If your application is successful your licence will not be valid or issued until the second fee has been paid. 

Please ensure you have all the required procedures detailed under 'supporting documents' below to submit with your application form. 

Download Selling Animals as Pets Application Form

Selling Animals as Pets Application Form

Please contact us to request a copy of the application form by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 0115 907 2244.

 To request this information in an accessible format email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Your application will not be successful if you do not meet the licence conditions. You are advised to read the following documents

Supporting Documents

Please ensure that you have the written operating procedures that are required by the licence conditions to include with your application. Your application should include the following documents:- 

  • A plan of the premises
  • Training policy for all staff (Schedule 2 Condition 4) and Training records and qualifications (copies)
  • Procedures for Protection of Pain and Suffering (Schedule 2 Condition 9) covering
    -feeding regimes
    -cleaning regimes,
    -transportation,
    -the prevention of and control of the spread of disease,
    -monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals
    -death or escape of an animal
  • Emergency Plan (Schedule 2 Condition 10)

Please note - We can only process your application if

  • the form is completed in full
  • all relevant information detailed in the application form is provided
  • the initial fee has been paid 

Out of Scope

If you consider that you fall outside the scope of the licence requirements we will require evidence to support this position. More details can be found in the guidance notes above. Please contact us to discuss if you may be outside the scope of the Regulations.

Contact us

Environmental Health
Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5RP

Call: 0115 907 2244
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.