Animal Welfare Establishments
Licence summary
Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, any persons or organisations operating animal welfare establishments (such as animal sanctuaries or animal rehoming centres) where 8 or more animals (excluding fish), or 5 or more dogs, or 5 or more equines are kept at the same time
by the operator of the animal welfare establishment must be licensed.
The 8-animal threshold excludes any animal under 4 months old if it was born within the animal welfare establishment or arrived at the animal welfare establishment with its mother.
Please note that you do not meet the criteria for licensing an Animal Welfare Establishment if the animals you keep are kept:
- as pets.
- at premises used for the care or treatment of animals by a person who is a veterinary surgeon.
- by or are in the care of a local authority.
- as part of farming or for use in the course of a business.
- temporarily by persons licensed under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.
- solely for military, police or sporting purposes.
- for exhibition for the purposes of education or entertainment.
- to be trained as assistance dogs.
Before you apply
You must not be disqualified from keeping animals, running an animal-related business, transporting animals, or working with animals under relevant animal welfare law.
Read the licence conditions and guidance before you apply. Check that your premises, procedures and record keeping meet the required animal welfare standard
Legislation and guidance
Fees
Application fees are non-refundable and conditions will be attached.
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Animal Welfare Establishment Licence – application (new licence and renewal) | £320.30 |
How to apply
To apply, change or renew a licence for animal welfare establishment, you can complete the form below and return it to us by email:
Licence period
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 allow the Council to grant licences for a period of one, two or three years.
New applications will normally be granted a one-year licence. Longer licence durations are typically considered at renewal, based on risk and compliance history.
In determining the duration of a licence, the Council must be satisfied that the period granted is appropriate, having regard to:
- the risk of the applicant breaching licence conditions (including any specific conditions attached to the licence);
- the likely impact of any such breaches on the welfare of animals; and
- whether the applicant demonstrates standards of animal welfare that exceed the minimum licence requirements.
If you do not hear from us
There is no automatic approval. If you have not heard from us after submitting your application, contact us for an update.
If your application is refused or conditions are added
Contact us first if you want advice about a refusal or about conditions added to a license.
You may also be able to appeal through the Sheriff Court.