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Selling animals as pets

On 1 October 2018, new regulations on selling animals as pets in England came into force. Anyone who sells animals as pets for commercial gain is now classed as a business and needs to have a licence. This is because the law now recognises it as a profit-making enterprise.

Our Trading Standards Service has a duty to ensure a level playing field for all licensed activities. It ensures that these services meet the same strict licensing criteria, to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the animals.

Our role is to secure and maintain compliance, ensuring that the appropriate standards are achieved.

Key points

If you make more than £1,000 income by selling animals, you will be classified as a business and need a licence.

It is important to note that a £1,000 trading income (ignoring any costs involved in producing the litter) is a tax threshold. If you make £1,000 or over (ignoring any costs involved) you have an obligation to declare this to HMRC. At which point the costs incurred will be assessed to determine whether tax is payable or not

There is a star-rating system which will see licensed businesses receiving a rating from one to five stars based on two factors:

  • welfare standards against which the business is operating
  • the risk rating (based on the businesses history of meeting these standards)

It is a criminal offence to carry out a licensable activity without the necessary licence.

North Somerset District Council may grant a licence for a period of one, two or three years as part of the star-rated licensing model. 

For example, a business who has a five-star rating would be issued a three-year licence. 

A lower star-rating means they will be inspected more often and pay a higher licence fee.

Apply for a licence

To apply for a licence, contact us first to discuss your proposal and any fees payable. You will need to meet some criteria to apply.

More information