Pet sales

Do I need a licence to sell animals as pets?

If you sell animals as pets (or with a view to them being later resold as pets) in the course of a business, as defined by The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, you will be required to obtain an animal activity licence from Salford City Council. This is not exclusive to traditional style ‘pet shops’ and includes sales from homes or other premises where animals are sold as pets.

Conditions

In order to obtain an animal activity licence, you need to ensure that you meet the specific licence conditions which relate to that activity. The conditions relating to selling animals as pets can be found in the legislation detailed above and DEFRA has produced a guidance note for pet sales, to assist licence holders comply. The link to this guidance is detailed below and a PDF version is available at the bottom of this page:

• guidance notes from the Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG)

Environmental health officers will inspect the premises to check compliance with the legislation, licence conditions and assess the welfare of the animals to ensure they have the following:

• a suitable environment/place to live

• a suitable diet including fresh water

• the ability to exhibit normal behaviour

• housed, as appropriate, either with or apart from other animals

• protection from and treatment of pain, suffering, injury or disease

As well as checking general health and safety requirements (in non-domestic premises).

Fees 

The fees for selling animals as pets are determined by the types of animals sold and are payable in two parts:

• Application fee - this should be submitted with your application forms (non refundable). In accordance with DEFRA guidance, to ensure that applications are processed and premises inspected before licences expire, application and fees to renew animal activity licences should be submitted at least ten weeks before the current licence expires. If applications and fees are received with less than ten weeks left on the licence, there may not be sufficient time to process the application and inspect the premises before the licence expires. Please be aware that businesses will not be permitted to trade unless a valid licence is held. If renewal applications are submitted after the expiry date there will be an interim period where trade is not permitted until a new licence has been issued. You should also be aware that failure to apply and pay for the renewal within time of the current licence, will result in having to apply as a ‘new’ business and the higher application and grant fees will apply.

Please be aware that if you are applying for more than one licensable activity such as a pet shop and boarding of dogs, then the higher application fee will apply plus an additional £79 for every other activity applied for.

• Grant fee - once the inspection has been undertaken and the inspecting officer has determined the star rating and duration of your licence, you will be advised of the grant fee (non refundable).

Click the options below to see the fees:

How to apply

Before you apply you should be fully familiar with the specific licence conditions and be confident in meeting them.

If you wish to apply for a new selling animals as pets activity licence or renew your current licence, you need to complete:

1. Section 1;

2. Main application form; AND

3. Section 10

Please download each of these forms, complete the relevant sections and return the forms, along with the necessary supporting documentation to Environmental Health. This can be emailed to dogwardens@salford.gov.uk. Alternatively the application forms can be posted to Environmental Health, Place Directorate, Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Salford, M27 5FJ Once fees have been confirmed, a member of the team will contact you to take payment.

Will my rating be published?

Yes. Once you have been inspected and the officer has determined your star rating, this will be published on our website. The register shows your business name, business address (although if you trade from a domestic premises this is not disclosed), the type(s) of licence(s) you hold and the star rating.

This page was last updated on 4 August 2026