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Zoo licence

Licence conditions, who can apply, how to apply, costs and fees.

If you wish to run a zoo, you must apply for a zoo licence under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

You will need to apply for a licence if your:

  • zoo is open to the public for at least 7 days a year
  • exotic, dangerous or wild animals are exhibited to the public
  • wild animals aren’t normally domesticated in Great Britain and have come from abroad

Find more information about a zoo licence on GOV.UK.

If you are not sure that your collection is a zoo, contact our Environmental Health Department.

Email: Environmental.Health@cumberland.gov.uk

Notice of intent

You will need to notify us of your intention to apply for a zoo licence.

You must:

  • give us 2 months notice in writing
  • publish notice that you are intending to apply in at least 1 local and 1 national newspaper
  • display the notice at the site
  • send a copy to us so that it can be made available for public inspection

The notice of intent must include:

  • the location of the zoo
  • the kind of animals you will keep and how many
  • how you will house and care for the animals
  • staff numbers and what they will be doing
  • expected visitors and vehicle numbers
  • zoo entrance and exit points
  • how you will meet the conservation conditions

Formal application for a zoo licence

To apply for a licence, you will need to complete and submit the application form.

Send your application to:

The Environmental Health Department

Email: Environmental.Health@cumberland.gov.uk

Cumberland Council 
Allerdale House 
Workington 
Cumbria 
CA14 3YJ

You may not get a licence if anyone working in or managing the zoo has committed an animal welfare offence.

Find further guidance about keeping zoo animals on GOV.UK

Costs and fees

Visit the Cumberland Council fees and charges webpage.

You can pay your notice fee by debit or credit card by calling 0300 373 3730.

We no longer accept cheques or cash.

After you’ve applied

After receiving your application and payment:

  • a determination will be made about your licence
  • your premises may be inspected and assessed

Representations

We will take into account any representations made by:

  • yourself
  • Chief Officer of Police
  • fire officer
  • governing body of any national institution concerned with the operations of zoos
  • planning authority if not local authority
  • any person concerned with the health and safety of the local area

Inspection

You may have an inspection to make sure the premises meet the standards required by the regulations.

We will consider any reports made from an inspection.

If you have not had an inspection, we will consult with representatives nominated by the Secretary of State.

Issuing your licence

Your licence will only be issued to you when:

  • all the necessary inspections and checks have been carried out
  • the premises meets the required standards

If the licence is approved, we will send it to you in the post.

The licence must be displayed at the entrance of the zoo.

Licence conditions

We may attach conditions to your licence. They may include:

  • precautions and steps to be taken against the escape of animals or unauthorised release
  • records to be kept of the acquisition of the different animals, births, deaths, disposals or escapes, cause of death and the health of the animals
  • insurance against liability for damages caused by animals

Other conditions can be determined by the Secretary of State which may not be related to the health, safety or welfare of persons working in the zoo.

If your application is refused

We will refuse your application if we find that establishment or continuance of a zoo would:

  • affect the health and safety of the residents living in the area
  • seriously affect the preservation of law and order

We may refuse your application if:

  • standards of accommodation, staffing or management are not adequate for proper care and well being of the animals
  • anyone working in or managing the zoo has been convicted for ill treatment of animals
  • planning permission has not been granted - our decision may be refused or deferred

We will send you a written statement of refusal by post.

Licence renewal

If your application is approved, a licence will be granted for 4 years from the date on the licence.

If the licence is a renewal, it will be 6 years from the end of the existing licence.

An application for renewal must:

  • be made no later than 6 months before the end of the period of the licence
  • accompanied by the set fee

We may either extend the time period of your existing licence or ask you to apply for a new one.

Zoo licence dispensations

A zoo licence dispensation may be granted in some cases.

We may ask the Secretary of State to direct that the Act does not apply or it is not necessary for periodical and special inspections to be carried out if:

  • the zoo is small in size
  • there is a small number of animal types

The Secretary of State may, after consultations, determine to allow these dispensations.

Another reason for a dispensation is if the operator of the zoo requests the Secretary of State to reduce the number of periodical inspections in regards to the size of the zoo or the small number of animals kept there.

The Secretary of State may nominate the person to inspect the zoo, if so the operator's right to object shall not apply. This may be reviewed by the Secretary of State.