Selling animals as pets
Businesses that import, distribute or sell animals as pets must be licensed. This applies whether you operate from a shop, domestic premises or online. Premises open to the public where animals are available for purchase must also be licensed.
When deciding if you are running or advertising a business, consider:
- whether your importing, distributing or selling animals for a fixed fee
- whether you buy animals with the intent to sell them on
- if animals are bought and then quickly resold or re-advertised
- number, frequency or high volumes of sales
- repeated use of the same advertising channels
- advertising across multiple websites or platforms
- range of species offered
- whether sales generate significant income or profit
Who needs a licence
You need a selling animals as pets licence if you:
- sell animals from a pet shop, garden centre or other commercial premises
- sell animals online or via social media
- keep animals with the intention of reselling them
- import or distribute animals for resale as pets
- run a commercial rehoming business supplying animals to the public
- operate premises open to the public or other businesses where animals are sold
Who does not need a licence
A licence is not usually needed if you:
- occasionally sell surplus animals you keep as a hobby, not as a business
- rehome animals as part of registered charitable work, unless the activity is run commercially
See the DEFRA statutory guidance for selling animals as pets.
How to apply
To apply or renew your licence, you will need to complete and submit the application form.
Send your application to:
Email: Environmental.Health@cumberland.gov.uk
Licence conditions
If you are granted a licence, you must meet conditions covering:
- suitable accommodation and welfare for each species
- record keeping and identification of animals
- hygiene, disease control and emergencies
- staff training and supervision
Each licensed business is awarded a star rating from 1 to 5, based on welfare standards and compliance. This rating must be displayed with your licence. Details of how star ratings are calculated are set out in the the DEFRA Procedural Guidance for Local Authorities.
See Schedule 2 and 3 of the 2018 Regulations for the full conditions.
Guidance
Find more guidance about selling animals as pets licence on GOV.UK