Zoo licences
Zoos are regulated by the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. Barnet Council works in close partnership with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on all aspects of zoo licensing.
The applicant must give at least two months' notice and advertise the application in a local and national newspaper as well as a notice displayed at the site. The council will consult the police, fire authority, the governing body of any national institute concerned with zoos, and any adjoining authority, if the zoo overlaps its area. Any person may object on grounds of alleged injurious effect on the health or safety of persons living in the area.
The council will arrange an inspection by a consultant inspector from the list of suitable inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State.
Licences last for five years. The fee will include the cost of the veterinary inspection.
Your right of appeal
You can appeal a licence refusal or any conditions to which a licence is subject through a Magistrates' Court.
Further information
You can find out more about zoo licensing on DEFRA’s website.
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.
