Pet shop licences
Pet shops are controlled by the Pet Animals Act 1951.
No person may keep a pet shop without a licence from the council.
Licences for pet shops may be issued provided the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following acts:
- The Pet Animals Act 1951
- The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934.
Licences expire on the anniversary of issue.
The premises must meet adequate animal health and welfare standards. Inspections are carried out by animal health inspectors from the Corporation of London Veterinary Service.
The applicant must be able to demonstrate that:
- they are qualified to keep animals
- the animals will be kept in accommodation that is suitable in respect of construction, size, temperature lighting, ventilation and cleanliness
- animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding materials and (so far as necessary) visited at suitable intervals
- mammals will not be sold at too early an age
- all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of infectious disease among animals
- appropriate steps will be taken to protect the animals in the case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable fire-fighting equipment
- a register will be set up, containing a description of any animal received on the premises, the animal's age and sex, the date of acquisition and departure, and the source from which the animals are received
- the animal register will be available for inspection at all times by an environmental health officer or by a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner authorised by the council
- no animal will be sold to a child under the age of 12 years old.
A licence may be refused or withheld on grounds that conditions are not suitable for the keeping of animals.
In addition to the standard conditions, a licence may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to your premises.
Download a pet shop licence application form 
(PDF, 97 KB).
Right of appeal
You can appeal a licence refusal or any conditions to which a licence is subject through a Magistrates' Court.
Further information
Contact the Corporation of London Veterinary Service for advice and information about animal health and welfare licensing requirements. Tel: 020 8897 6741
For an application form, further information about applying for a licence or to make a complaint about an establishment, contact the Licensing Team:
Tel: 020 8359 7995
Fax: 0870 889 6793
E-mail: licensingadmin@barnet.gov.uk
The Licensing Team deals with many of the licences that may be issued by the council. We can provide information and advice about applications, fees, how to apply, whether a licence is needed and how to advertise an application.
We can:
- provide application forms and printed advice.
- provide information about existing licences and current applications.
- receive representations either in favour of or against a licence application.
- deal with requests for a review of a licence in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.
- respond to complaints about licensed premises or premises trading without a licence.
