Licence summary
Anyone who conducts a business of selling animals as pets at any premises (which could be a private dwelling) requires a licence from the local authority. This includes all commercial selling of pet animals, including pet shops and businesses selling animals over the internet.

It is recommended that you contact South Hams District Council if you are thinking of starting a business selling pet animals.

We try to make sure that all animals are well looked after, that pets will be looked after once they are sold, that the layout of any facilities are suitable and that staff are trained

Licences can only be issued for one year. The licence, or a copy of the licence, should be suitably displayed to the public in a prominent position.

Authorised veterinary surgeons carry out inspections on behalf of this Council

Eligibility criteria
Applicants for a pet shop licence must not be disqualified from keeping a pet shop. A fee, determined by the Local Authority, will be payable on application.

Regulation summary
A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application evaluation process
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. Click here to view the standard licence conditions for pet shops.

Sale of livestock

No animal should be sold to any person under the age of 16 years who is unknown to the retailer unless that person is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or provides appropriate written consent. Subsequent sales to a juvenile less than 16 years (but over 12 years) of age who is known to the retailer can be carried out in the absence of a parent or legal guardian or appropriate written consent, provided that the retailer is satisfied as far as possible that:

• the parent / guardian would not object to the acquisition;
• the juvenile is sufficiently knowledgeable as to the needs, care and nature of the species acquired;
• the juvenile’s intention towards the acquisition is consistent with the well-being of the animal concerned.

Boarding of animals

No pet shop should be used for the purpose of boarding any species of animal for which they are not licensed to sell. If it is intended to board cats and dogs, suitable and sufficient accommodation must be provided.

• N.B. Boarding of cats and dogs is subject to separate licence issued under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act.

Categories of animals which a pet shop may be licensed to keep

• Dogs and cats (puppies and kittens)
• Smaller domesticated mammals e.g. rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, rats, mice, chinchillas, chipmunks, ferrets
• Larger domesticated mammals e.g. goats, pot-bellied pigs
• Primates e.g. marmosets
• Other mammals
• Parrots, parakeets and macaws
• Other birds
• Reptiles
• Amphibians
• Fish and aquatic invertebrates
• Other vertebrates

“No species of bird shall be housed in accommodation which does not afford that species sufficient space for natural free and full wing stretching and the number of birds housed shall be such that overcrowding does not significantly reduce that freedom.  Long tailed birds or birds in full plumage must be provided with properly placed perches and feeding and watering points to prevent the plumage being fouled or otherwise damaged.”(Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981)

• For perching birds, a sufficient number of perches (as appropriate) must be provided at such a height that the bird can rest its head without its head touching the top, and its tail the bottom of the cage
• A quality padded net should be used when catching birds in an aviary

Minimum floor areas apply to young stock. For adult stock offered for sale, the dimensions should be doubled.  For advice on the age of stock, it is advisable to contact the veterinary surgeon.

-	No. of animals	1-4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Minimum cage height	Minimum cage depth
Mice, Hamsters, gerbils	Sq.cm	450	525	600	675	750	825	900	25	25
Rats	Sq.cm	675	785	900	1010	1125	1235	1350	30	30
Guinea pigs	Sq.cm	1350	1570	1800	2020	2250	2470	2700	30	30
Rabbits up to 2kg, kittens, ferrets, chinchillas chipmunks	Sq.cm	2250	2625	3000	3375	3750	4125	4500	40	30
Puppies up to age of 12 weeks maximum	Sq.cm	10,000	12,500	15,000	17,500	20,000	22,500	25,000	Double height at shoulder minimum 50	0.9m

The range of behavioural opportunities for many of the animals listed in the above schedule will be increased by enriching the environment with accessories.

Raised shelving should be taken into consideration when assessing the total floor area.

Temporary (up to six days) rehousing of adult rabbits in smaller cages than specified above should be considered as acceptable.

The above recommended stocking densities are insufficient for the housing of marmosets. Marmosets must be housed in cages sufficiently large enough to allow for natural movement, such as climbing and swinging.

Other species should be housed in accommodation appropriate to size, age, and type of species; and to avoid overcrowding. There should be sufficient space for free and natural movement which should not be restricted by either the size of the accommodation or the number of animals in that holding. Correct temperature for the species must be maintained.

The advice and approval of the Licensing Authority should be sought wherever there is doubt about a species being sold.

It is virtually impossible to determine the quantity of fish to be kept  in a tank purely on a weight / volume or numbers of fish / volume ratio.

The variation in system design, husbandry techniques and types of fish involved would render any such method too simple to be useful or too complicated to be practical.

The maintenance of water quality standards is essential and is a simple but effective way to determine stocking densities.  Water quality testing should be carried out at least once a week in centralised systems and 10% of individual tanks should likewise be tested. Unsatisfactory test results must be recorded in a register together with the corrective action taken. Further tests must be carried out when visual inspection of the tanks indicates the need.

Water quality criteria (1mg/litre- 1ppm)

Parameters		Cold Water		Tropical Fish		Tropical Marine Species
* Dissolved oxygen	-min	6mg/litre	-min	6mg/litre	-min	5.5mg/litre
* Free ammonia	-max	0.02mg/litre	-max	0.02mg/litre	-max	0.01mg/litre
Nitrite	-max	0.2mg/litre	-max	0.2mg/litre	-max	0.125mg/litre
Nitrate	-max	50mg/litre above ambient tapwater	-max	50mg/litre above ambient tapwater	-max	40mg/litre ambient tapwater
*pH (tropical marine only)	-	-	-	-	-min	8.1

*These parameters should be checked first. Only if a problem exists with these tests is it necessary to check nitrite and nitrate levels.

Further advice and guidance on water quality criteria can be obtained from the:

Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association Ltd,
Wessex House
40 Station Road
Westbury
Wiltshire
BA13 3JN

Call: 0870 043 4013
Website: www.ornamentalfish.org

Target completion time
Once South Hams District Council has received the completed application and associated supporting documents (if required) from the applicant, we would expect it to be processed within 28 days. If you have not heard from us by this time please contact the Licensing Department, see details below.

Apply online
Apply for a licence to keep a pet shop
Tell us about a change to your existing pet shop

Forms to download, print, and post
Alternatively, click on the link below to open a copy of the application form.

Pet shop application form

Further information

Conditions
Licence fees

Failed application redress
Please contact The Licensing Department at South Hams District Council in the first instance.

Appeal
Right of appeal exists to the Magistrates' Court within 21 consecutive days of the date of the objection notice.

Fees
Click here to view fees for licence applications.

Contact details

Address
The Licensing Department
South Hams District Council
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 5NE
Tel: 01803 861234
Fax: 01803 861294
Email: licensing@southhams.gov.uk

Public register
Click here for information on how to view the public register.

Licence holder redress
Please contact The Licensing Department at South Hams District Council in the first instance.

Consumer complaint
If you wish to make a complaint of any kind about a pet shop within the South Hams District Council area please contact us on 01803 861234 or write to us at the above address.

If you are not happy with the service the Council has provided with regard to your application, please contact the Licensing Office of the Council in the first instance, and we will try to resolve any concerns you may have.

The Council also has a formal complaints procedure. Please write to the Licensing Office at the contact address above, you may wish to send your letter by recorded delivery.

If your complaint is still not resolved, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other redress
Anyone suffering nuisance due to noise, smells or similar because of a commercial premises should contract the South Hams District Council phone number 01803 861234

Trade associations
Pet Care Trust (PCT)
Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA)