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Pet Shop Licence

• Licence Summary

• Regulation Summary

• Application Process

• How To Apply

• Tacit Consent

• Licence Holder Redress

• Consumer Complaint

Licence Summary

To run a business selling pet animals you need a licence from the local authority. This includes all commercial selling of pet animals, including pet shops and businesses selling animals over the internet.

Applicants for a pet shop licence must not be disqualified from keeping a pet shop.

The local authority may authorise an Officer, Veterinary Surgeon or practitioner to inspect licensed premises.

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Regulation Summary

Copies of the relevant legislation can be found at this external website

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Application Process

A fee of £82.00 will be payable for both a new grant and a renewal applications and conditions may be attached.  If the application is rejected the enforcement element of the fee will be refunded. 

To ensure that the premises meets the requirements of the Act we authorise a veterinary surgeon to inspect the premises. The fee for this is not included in the application fee and will be invoiced separately.

Local authorities must have regard to the following when considering an application for a pet shop licence:

• that animals will be kept in suitable accommodation, for example in regards to temperature, size, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness

• adequate food and drink will be provided to the animals and they will be visited at suitable intervals

• that any mammalian animals will not be sold too young

• that steps are taken to prevent disease spreading among the animals

• that adequate fire and emergency provisions are in place

Conditions can be attached to a licence to ensure that the above are complied with.

it is our aim to complete the application process within 30 working days (subject to a satisfactory veterinary inspection within this period).

If your application is successful your licence will run until the end of the calendar year in which it is granted.  You will then need to apply to renew it for another twelve months.

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How To Apply

To apply for a Pet Shop Licence please complete the appropriate form below.  If downloading and posting the application form it should be returned to the address below.

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Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Tacit consent means that if we have not dealt with applications within the target period then the application can be deemed to have been granted/approved.

Please note that tacit consent does not apply in respect of this application. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.

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Licence Holder Redress

Any applicant who is refused a licence can appeal to their local Magistrates Court.  Please contact us in the first instance.

Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to their licence can appeal to their local Magistrates Court.

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Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you, preferably in the form of a letter (with proof of delivery).  If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, visit our Consumer pages or DirectGov for advice.  From outside of the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

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Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Trading Standards & Licensing Service,

PO Box 232, 16 Church Road, Stockton on Tees. TS18 1XD.

Telephone: 01642 526560  Fax: 01642 526584

Electronic Mail: Trading Standards or Licensing Administration

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