Translate

Business licences

How to apply for licence for a business, including gambling, entertainment, premises and animal licences.

In this section:

Animals: keeping

Changes to animal licensing laws

The government has recently published the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 - GOV.UK under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 - GOV.UK. The effect of the new regulations is to replace some existing licensing regimes and to put in place a new licensing regime to control the following 'licensable activities':

  • selling animals as pets
  • providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
  • hiring out horses
  • breeding dogs
  • keeping or training animals for exhibition

The regulations came into effect on 1 October 2018 and introduced a new licensing regime to replace the licensing and registration regimes in place under the following legislation:

If you have a licence under one of the above pieces of legislation that was 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.

Public advice

Check our register, available in the downloads section below, to see a list of current animal welfare licences. Contact the Licensing Service (contact below) if you believe an establishment is operating without the relevant licence in place.

Application process

Once an application has been received and payment has been made, a licensing officer and / or a veterinarian will arrange for an inspection to take place at the proposed premises to determine if it is a suitable environment to be licensed and meets the licence conditions, prior to the grant of a licence.

The conditions that will be attached to a licence are set out within the relevant guidance for that licence type. Additional conditions can also be attached to a licence if deemed necessary. Please ensure that you read the guidance, and understand the requirements, specific to your business prior to making an application.

Application process timescale

We aim to issue a decision on an application within 10 weeks of receiving it. It is possible that the process may take longer, for example if further information is required from the applicant or if it proves difficult to make the arrangements for the inspection.

Eligibility criteria

Schedule 8 of the regulations provides the following persons who may not apply for a licence where a person who:

  • has at any time held a licence which was revoked under regulation 15 of these regulations
  • has at any time held a licence which was revoked under regulation 17 of the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014(a)
  • has at any time held a licence which was revoked under regulation 13 of the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012(b)
  • is disqualified under section 33 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011(c)
  • has at any time held a licence which was revoked under regulation 12 of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010(d)
  • is disqualified under section 34 of the act
  • is disqualified under section 40(1) and (2) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006(e)
  • is disqualified under section 4(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991(a)
  • is disqualified under Article 33A of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983(b)
  • is disqualified under section 6(2) of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976(c) from keeping a dangerous wild animal
  • is disqualified under section 3(3) of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973(d) from keeping a breeding establishment for dogs
  • is disqualified under section 4(3) of the Riding Establishments Act 1964(e) from keeping a riding establishment
  • is disqualified under section 3(3) of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963(f) from keeping a boarding establishment for animals
  • is disqualified under section 5(3) of the Pet Animals Act 1951(g) from keeping a pet shop
  • is disqualified under section 1(1) of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954(h) from having custody of an animal
  • is disqualified under section 4(2) of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925(i)
  • is disqualified under section 3 of the Protection of Animals Act 1911(j) from the ownership of an animal

Other matters to be considered are:

  • whether you will require planning permission for change of use or for building the necessary accommodation
  • the disposal of waste and litter
  • the potential for nuisance to neighbours, for example barking dogs
  • the health, safety and welfare requirements in relation to anyone you may employ in connection with the business

Cost

The following are the current animal licence fees for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

Application

The fee is £257

One year licence

Per licence plus associated vet fees 

The fee is £305

On year licence - home boarding online

Per licence plus associated vet fees 

The fee is £156

Two year licence

Per licence plus associated vet fees 

The fee is £375

Three year licence 

Per licence plus associated vet fees 

The fee is £453

Re-inspection

The fee is 280

Transfer - due to death of licensee

Admin fee plus associated fees (including inspection where necessary)

The fee is £70.50

Variation to licence (to reduce licensable activities or number of animals) 

Admin fee plus associated fees (including inspection where necessary)

The fee is £70.50

Downloads

Animal licensing register (PDF, 144.08KB)
Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 FAQs (PDF, 412.68KB)

Contact

For more information, contact our License Service. 

Email: licensing@luton.gov.uk
Phone: 01582 546040

Luton Council
Town Hall
George Street
Luton
LU1 2BQ