Animal licences

You need an animal boarding establishment licence if, in the course of a business, you provide overnight accommodation for other people’s cats or dogs.

This includes:

• boarding kennels
• catteries
• home boarding provided from a private dwelling

North Ayrshire Council currently licenses overnight animal boarding. We do not currently require an animal boarding establishment licence solely for commercial dog day care where no dog is accommodated overnight.

If your service includes any overnight accommodation, you must apply for a licence. Contact the Licensing Team before starting the activity if you are unsure whether a licence is required.

The relevant legislation is the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

How to apply

If you are applying for a new licence, you must not begin providing licensable animal boarding until your licence has been granted.

After applying

When we receive your application and the appropriate fee, we will arrange to inspect the premises and the arrangements for the accommodation, care and welfare of the animals.

Before deciding the application, we must be satisfied that appropriate arrangements are in place for:

• suitable accommodation
• adequate food, drink and exercise
• regular supervision and visits
• the prevention and control of infectious or contagious diseases
• fire safety and other emergencies

We will consider the application and inspection report before deciding whether to grant the licence.

Licence length

An animal boarding establishment licence remains in force until 31 December of the year in which it is granted. You must apply to renew the licence if you wish to continue operating after that date.

Licence conditions

The licence will state the maximum number and type of animals that may be accommodated.

It will be subject to the Council’s standard animal boarding licence conditions and any additional conditions considered necessary for the premises or the way in which the business operates.

The conditions applying to the business will be set out in the licence.

You need a licence if, during any 12-month period, you breed:

• three or more litters of puppies
• three or more litters of kittens
• six or more litters of rabbits

The requirement applies whether the puppies, kittens or rabbits are sold or otherwise supplied as pets.

The requirement to hold a rabbit breeding licence does not apply where rabbits are being bred for personal consumption or as part of commercial meat production.

Contact the Licensing Team before starting the activity if you are unsure whether a licence is required.

The relevant legislation is the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

How to apply

The online application form is being prepared and will be available shortly.

If you need to apply before the online form becomes available, contact the Licensing Team:

• Telephone: 01294 310000
• Email: licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk

You must not carry on a licensable breeding activity unless and until a licence has been granted.

After applying

When we receive a valid application and the appropriate fee, we will arrange an inspection of the premises where the breeding activity will take place.

The inspection will consider matters including:

• the suitability of the applicant
• the suitability of the premises
• relevant records
• the condition and welfare of the animals
• staffing, experience and qualifications, where applicable
• the applicant’s ability to comply with the relevant licence conditions

We will consider the application and inspection report before deciding whether to grant or refuse the licence.

Licence length

A breeding licence may be granted for one, two or three years. North Ayrshire Council will decide the appropriate duration after considering the application and inspection report.

Licence conditions

A breeding licence will be subject to the general conditions contained in Schedule 2 of the Regulations and the relevant activity-specific conditions:

• Schedule 6 for dog breeding
• Schedule 7 for cat breeding
• Schedule 8 for rabbit breeding

The Council may impose additional conditions where this is considered necessary to protect animal welfare.

Further information is available from the Scottish Government:

• guidance for dog breeders
• guidance for cat breeders
• guidance for rabbit breeders

To keep and run a pet shop or sell pet animals, you need this licence.

The Law is in the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. These regulations cover six different licensed activities involving animals. Selling pets is "Activity A".

How to apply

Complete and return a Pet Shop Application Form document.

After applying

We'll inspect your proposed premises to make sure they meet required standards.

Applications are advertised on this website allowing members of the public to make objections.

Licence length

If granted, this licence lasts for one year from the date of issue and can be renewed.

Licence conditions

The licence will have the Council's Standard Conditions. In some cases, the Council may apply special conditions relevant to your circumstances.

Any conditions which apply to you will be set out in the licence document you will be given. If these are broken, the licence holder can be charged by Police Scotland. The Licensing Committee can suspend the licence after a hearing. You will be invited to such a hearing and will be able to speak to the committee.

By law, you cannot sell animals without a licence number. The law prevents any animal being sold from any place other than licensed premises. To get this licence the following conditions must be met:

• animals will be kept in suitable accommodation. Relating to temperature, size, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness
• adequate food and drink will be provided to the animals and they will be visited at suitable intervals
• no mammalian animals will be sold too young
• all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent and control the spread of diseases amongst the animals
• adequate fire and emergency provisions are in place

It is illegal to sell pets to children under the age of 12.

You need this licence if you wish to run a riding establishment where horses or ponies are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction.

To be eligible for this licence you must be over 18 and considered suitable and qualified to hold this licence. You must not have been disqualified under specified animal welfare laws.

How to apply

After applying

We may arrange to inspect your proposed premises to make sure they meet the required standards. A veterinary surgeon or practitioner will produce a report on: the suitability and conditions of your premises, and any horses you keep. This is considered before we decide on your application.

Applications are advertised on this website, allowing members of the public to make objections.

It may take six weeks to process your application. If you haven't heard from the Licensing Office within a reasonable period, contact us.

Licence length

Riding establishment licences are renewed annually and expire on 30 June. You must apply to renew your licence if you wish to continue operating after that date.

Licence conditions

The licence will have the council's Standard Conditions. In some cases, the council may apply special conditions relevant to your circumstances.

Any conditions which apply to you will be set out in the licence document you will be given. If these are broken, then the licence holder can be charged by Police Scotland.

To grant this licence we must be satisfied that:

• the horses are in good condition, and they will be maintained in good health, kept physically fit. Where the horses are to be ridden or used during riding instruction, that they are suitable
• the animal’s feet will be trimmed, and shoes fitted properly and are in good condition
• there is suitable accommodation for the horses
• for horses maintained on grass, suitable pasture, shelter and water and supplementary feed will be provided as and when needed
• horses will be provided with suitable food, drink and bedding materials. They will be exercised, groomed, rested and visited at suitable intervals
• precautions will be taken to reduce the spread of contagious or infectious diseases. Veterinary first aid equipment and medicines will be provided and maintained
• appropriate procedures are in place to protect and remove the horses in the case of a fire. As part of this fire instructions and name, address and telephone number of the licence holder are displayed outside the premises
• storage facilities for forage, bedding, stable equipment and saddlery are provided

The licence is also subject to the following conditions:

• any horse inspected by an authorised officer and found to need veterinary attention will not be returned to work until a veterinary certificate confirms the horse is fit for work
• no horse will be let out for hire or for use in instruction without the supervision of a responsible person aged 16 years or older. This is unless the licence holder is satisfied the rider doesn't need supervision
• the business won't be left in the charge of someone under 16 years of age
• the licence holder has indemnity insurance
• the licence holder keeps a register of all horses in their possession that are three years old or younger. The register must be available for inspection at all reasonable times

You will need this licence to keep and run a zoo. A zoo is defined as a place:

• where wild animals are kept for exhibition to the public, and
• to which the public has access, with or without charge, seven days or more a year.

Not included in this licence:

• circuses
• pet shops
• registered establishments that carry out animal experimentation

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires the inspection and licensing of all zoos in the UK to ensure the safety of animals.

How to apply

Contact us for more information about this licence and how to apply. We can discuss your requirements and tailor our advice to your case.