Zoos
The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 came into force in 1984. The Act requires the inspection and licensing of all zoos in Great Britain. The Act aims to ensure that, where animals are kept in enclosures, they are provided with a suitable environment to provide an opportunity to express most normal behaviour.
Any person(s) keeping wild animals (as defined in Section 21 of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981) for the purpose of public exhibition, with or without charge, on more than seven days in any consecutive twelve months, with the exception of circuses, pet shops or registered establishments for carrying out animal experiments.
The applicant(s) must, at least two months before making application, give notice in writing on the relevant form to the Council of their intention to make an application and publish a notice to that intention in a local and national newspaper. In addition a copy of that notice must be exhibited at the site.
You can download a Zoo Application Form and notes (Word 78Kb)
Alternatively, an application form can be obtained using the contact details on the right of this page.
Completed application forms should also be sent to the contact details at the right of this page. The application form should be accompanied by the non refundable fee.
For 2010/2011 the fee for a Zoo Licence is £265. This fee is subject to annual review.
The fee is not returnable if you decide to withdraw the application or if the licence is refused.