Pet Shops

Pet Shops must be licenced by the local council. The keeping of a pet shop is defined to mean the carrying on at a premises of any nature (including a private dwelling) of a business of selling animals as pets. Pet Shops that only sell food or animal equipment are not required to be licenced.

A Veterinary Consultant and a council officer inspect on application, and on renewal, all licensed pet shops within the district. In addition to this, the premises are subject to an interim, 'spot check' inspection, by a council officer, at some point throughout the licence period.

All licenced pet shops must comply with Rochford District Councils standard conditions for pet shops and may be subject to additional conditions as specified by the council.

Legislation

Pet Animals Act 1951.

Issuing Department

Waste and Street Scene

Financial Requirements

Please see schedule of fees in Related Documents below. If the Licence holder wishes to vary their licence, the fee is half of the annual licence fee plus all Veterinary Consultants Fees. You will be invoiced for the Veterinary Consultants fees after the Premises Inspection has taken place. A Licence will not be issued until all fees have been paid. These fees are reviewed annually on 1st April.

Expiry Date

All Pet Shop Licences expire annually on 31st December.

Renewal Of Licences: It is an offence to keep a pet shop, selling animals, without a current licence. Therefore licence holders must apply for renewal of their licence at least 2 months before their licence expires.

Tacit consent will apply to these applications. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period which is 60 days