Dangerous wild animals and zoo licences

Under separate legislation, we’re responsible for licensing zoos and people who keep dangerous wild animals.

Find out more about:

Dangerous wild animal licences

You’ll need a licence to keep animals listed in the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act

This does not apply to dangerous wild animals kept in zoos and pet shops. 

Find out more about:

How to apply

You must contact us before getting the animal.

You’ll need to tell us: 

  • the number and species of each animal you intend to keep 
  • the purebred status of the animals (for example, is it a hybrid, crossbreed or purebred) 
  • enclosure arrangements for the animals.

You can contact us by emailing  animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk or phoning 01634 333 333.

We can offer advice and guidance, and if appropriate we’ll give you an application form. 

Pre-application advice service  

We offer a pre-application advice service if you need advice and guidance on applying for a licence. The fee for this service is £115. If pre-application advice leads to a licence application, the Part A application fee will be reduced by £30. 

To book a pre-application advice meeting please email animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk

Completing your application

You'll need the following information to apply for a licence:

  • address where the animals will normally be held 
  • number and species of each animal
  • details of owners
  • insurance status 
  • accommodation   
  • standard operating procedures  
  • veterinary practice registration  
  • prevention and control of infectious disease  
  • emergency response arrangements 
  • previous licence refusal, revocation or cancellation.

After you apply

We’ll review your application and if complete we’ll email you a link to make your Part A payment online. 

If we need more information to process your application, we’ll contact you by email to tell you what information we need.  

Part A - application and inspection fee

The Part A fee is £350.

We're required to appoint a vet for keeping wild animal inspections. You’ll need to pay any vet fees owed after the inspection.

Inspection

Once you have paid the Part A fee and we have received your supporting documentation and procedures, we'll contact you to arrange an inspection of your premises. This will be carried out by one of our licensing officers and an independent vet. 

After the inspection, we’ll write to you to let you know the outcome of your licence application. 

If you're granted a licence 

If your application was successful, you’ll be granted a licence for 2 years. We’ll also confirm any conditions attached to the licence.

We’ll give you a copy of the inspection report, as well as details of the appeals process. 

To complete your application and receive your licence, you'll need to pay the vet fees. Once we receive your payment, we’ll issue your licence.

You must display your licence at the premises where the animal is kept.  

We’ll also publish your licence details in Medway Council’s online Animal Licensing Register.

If you're refused a licence

If we have not granted you a licence following inspection, we’ll let you know why.  

We’ll give you a copy of the inspection report, as well as details of the appeals process. 

We’ll also contact you to pay the vet fees incurred during inspection.  

You will not be able to keep the animal without a licence. 

Changes to your licence

You must request a variation to your licence if there are:

  • minor administrative changes (for example, changing the number, use or type of animals being exhibited)
  • major structural or operational changes for the business.

You’ll need to send your request in writing along with any supporting evidence to animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk.

We’ll review your request and email you a link to pay online. 

Once we've received your payment, we’ll contact you within 10 working days about your request.

Death of a licence holder 

The personal representative of the licence holder must tell us us in writing of the death within 28 days. 

The personal representative will become the operator of the licensable activity for 3 months from the death of the former licence holder or until the licence expires, whichever is shorter. 

If you do not notify us within the timeframe, the licence will end 28 days following the death of the licence holder. 

Find out more about what to do if a licence holder dies

Announced and unannounced re-inspections during the licence term 

Re-inspection may happen during the licence term, either as part of the licence conditions or following complaint or animal welfare concerns. 

Renew your licence

If you intend to continue keeping the animal, you’ll need to renew your licence at least 10 weeks before it expires.

We’ll write to you 3 months before your licence is due to expire to advise you to renew. It's the licence holder's responsibility to renew in time.

To renew your licence, email animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk.


Zoo licences

You’ll need a zoo licence if you’ll be displaying wild animals to the public for at least 7 days a year, in any place that’s not a circus or pet shop. 

Find out more about the Zoo Licensing Act.

View the keeping zoo animals guidance.

Find out more about:

Give notice of your intent to apply for a zoo licence 

If you're planning to operate a zoo you need to contact us to let us know you'll be applying for a zoo licence.

You can tell us by emailing  animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk or phoning 01634 333 333.

Pre-application advice service  

We offer a pre-application advice service if you need advice and guidance on applying for a licence. The fee for this service is £115. If pre-application advice leads to a licence application, the Part A application fee will be reduced by £30. 

To book a pre-application advice meeting please email animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk.

Publishing a notice of intent 

After you have contacted us and 2 months before you apply for a licence, you must publish a notice of intent to operate a zoo.

Your notice of intent must give details about: 

  • where the zoo will be 
  • what kind of animals you’re going to keep and how many 
  • how you’ll house and care for the animals 
  • staff numbers, roles and duties 
  • expected visitor and vehicle numbers 
  • zoo entrance and exit points 
  • how you’ll meet the conservation conditions 
  • how the application notice to the council is available to be inspected at the council offices. 

You'll need to:

  • publish the notice in at least one local and one national newspaper 
  • display the notice at the planned zoo site  
  • send a copy to us so that we can make it available for public inspection.

After the notice of intent has been published, you must contact us for an application form. You can request one by emailing  animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk or phoning 01634 333 333.

After you apply

We’ll review your application and if complete we’ll email you a link to make your Part A payment online. 

If we need more information to process your application, we’ll contact you by email to tell you what information we need.  

Part A - application and inspection fee

The Part A fee is £875. 

We're required to appoint a vet for zoo licence inspections. You’ll need to pay any vet fees owed after the inspection.  

Inspection

Once you have paid the Part A fee and we have received your supporting documentation and procedures, we'll contact you to arrange an inspection of your premises. This will be carried out by an inspecting officer and an independent vet.

We may also consult with you about any proposed conditions. 

The zoo needs to meet the standards of modern zoo practice

Granting or refusing a licence 

We must take into account any valid objections and consider the inspector's report before deciding to grant or refuse the licence.  

If you're granted a licence 

If your application was successful, you’ll be granted a licence for 4 years. We’ll also confirm any conditions attached to the licence.

We’ll give you a copy of the inspection report, as well as details of the appeals process. 

To complete your application and receive your licence, you'll need to pay the vet fees. Once we receive your payment, we’ll issue your licence.

You must display your licence at all public entrances to the zoo. 

We’ll also publish your licence details in Medway Council’s online Animal Licensing Register

If you're refused a licence

If we have not granted you a licence following inspection, we’ll let you know why.  

We’ll give you a copy of the inspection report, as well as details of the appeals process. 

We’ll also contact you to pay the vet fees incurred during inspection.  

You will not be able to operate a zoo without a licence. 

Announced and unannounced re-inspections during the licence term 

We must carry out zoo licence inspections:

  • before granting a new licence
  • before renewing a licence
  • for any significant change to a licence
  • during the first year of a new licence (or in the third year of a renewed licence)
  • 6 months before the end of either a new or renewed licence.

We'll also carry out an informal inspection in any year when there is no other inspection.

Changes to your licence

You must request a variation to your licence if there are:

  • minor administrative changes (for example, changing the number, use or type of animals being exhibited)
  • major structural or operational changes for the business.

You’ll need to send your request in writing along with any supporting evidence to animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk.

We’ll review your request and email you a link to pay online. 

Once we've received your payment, we’ll contact you within 10 working days about your request.

Change of business owner 

If the current licence holder is no longer the operator or owner of the business, the new operator or business owner will need to apply for a licence. You'll need to contact us as soon as possible to do this.

You must not operate until there is a new licence holder in place.

Death of a licence holder 

The personal representative of the licence holder must tell us us in writing of the death within 28 days. 

The personal representative will become the operator of the licensable activity for 3 months from the death of the former licence holder or until the licence expires, whichever is shorter. 

If you do not notify us within the timeframe, the licence will end 28 days following the death of the licence holder. 

Find out more about what to do if a licence holder dies

Renew your licence

We’ll notify you 9 to 12 months before your licence expires.

If you intend to keep operating, you’ll need to renew your licence 6 months before it expires. 

Renewed licences are valid for 6 years. 

To renew your licence, email animal.licensing@medway.gov.uk.