Zoo licence

Information about zoo licences and how to apply for one

Introduction

A zoo is a place where wild animals are kept for exhibition to the public. The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires that a licence be held to operate as a zoo. The Act applies to any zoo which can be accessed by members of the public – with or without payment for admission – on 7 or more days within a year.

Existing licence holders and anyone planning to apply for a licence can read the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 guide to the Act’s provisions.

2 months before making an application, you must submit a notice to us stating your intention to apply. You must also publish a copy of this notice in one local and one national newspaper 2 months before you apply. This gives time for people to read your intention and to make any representations. We will then inspect your premises and check to see if you have the correct planning permission. After these 2 months, you can apply for a zoo licence and send it to us with the correct fee.

We will refuse to grant a zoo licence if we feel that the zoo will affect the health or safety of people who live close by, or seriously affect the preservation of law and order. We will also refuse to grant a zoo licence if we are not satisfied that conservation measures will be implemented in a satisfactory manner.

To apply for a zoo licence please complete the relevant application form below.

Applications and notifications

Send us a notification of intent to operate a zoo by clicking the button below:

Apply for a new licence or renew a licence to operate a zoo by clicking the button below:

Report an unlicensed zoo

If you know or suspect someone is running a zoo without a licence, you can report it to us by using our contact us page.

We will investigate reports to check if the premises has a licence.

Register of licensed animal businesses

Visit Licensing Register to see a list of registered animal businesses in the Sedgemoor area.

Recent licence applications

A list of recent licence applications together with the closing date for each application can be viewed here – Recent licence applications.

Fees and charges

Current fees and charges can be found on our Fees and charges page.

Last updated: November 15, 2024

Next review due: May 15, 2025

Back to top