Zoo licences

Two months before you make a licence application a notice of intent should be published in one local and one national newspaper, at the site and sent to us where it will be made available for public inspection.

It must state:

• The location of the zoo
• The kinds of animals to be kept, in taxonomic category of order
• The arrangements made for the animals' accommodation, maintenance and well being
• The approximate number and categories of staff employed or to be employed at the zoo
• The approximate number of visitors and motor vehicle accommodation is provided for
• The approximate number and position of the means of access provided or to be provided to the premises

Download the Zoo Licence Notification form

Download the application form below and send it to our Food and Occupational Health section at Allerdale House in Workington. Don't forget the relevant fee with your application .

Download the Zoo Licence application form

(a) Allerdale Borough Council shall take into account representations made by:

• Applicant
• Chief Officer of Police
• Fire Officer
• Governing Body of any national institution concerned with the operations of zoos
• Planning authority if not local authority
• Any person alleging establishment or continuance of a zoo would injuriously affect health and safety of persons living in the neighbourhood of the zoo

(b) Allerdale Borough Council will consider any reports made by an inspector who has inspected the zoo. If there has been no inspection (which might be the case for a new zoo), the authority will consult such persons as the Secretary of State nominates.

1. If the licence is approved:-

• The licence will be sent in the post.
• The licence must be publicly displayed at the entrance to the zoo.

2. Refusal of the licence:

Allerdale Borough Council SHALL REFUSE the application if:

• The authority is satisfied establishment or continuance of zoo would injuriously affect the health and safety of persons living in the neighbourhood of the zoo, or
• Seriously affect the preservation of law and order.

We MAY REFUSE the application:

• If standards of accommodation, staffing or management are not adequate for proper care and well being of the animals.
• If applicant, director/manager secretary (of a body corporate), keeper of zoo has been convicted for ill treatment of animals.
• If planning permission for the zoo has not been granted the authority can refuse or defer the decision.

Allerdale Borough Council will send written statement of refusal to the applicant by post.

They MAY STATE:

• The precautions to be taken against escape of animals and steps to be taken in the event of any escape or unauthorised release.
• The records to be kept of numbers of different animals acquisitions, births, deaths, disposals or escapes and the cause of any such death and of the health of animals.
• Insurance against liability for damage caused by animals.
• Any other matter that the Secretary of State may decide.
• The condition shall not relate primarily to health, safety or welfare of persons working in the zoo.

1. A new licence will be granted for four years from the date on the licence.

2. If the licence is a renewal it will be six years from the end of existing licence.

An application for renewal must be made not later than six months before the end of the period of the licence, accompanied by the set fee.

The local authority may either:-

• Extend time period of the existing licence; or
• Direct the applicant to apply for a fresh licence

There are three types of inspection:

• Periodic,
• Special and
• Informal

Periodic inspections

These are undertaken when a licence is in existence.

The authority will discuss with the operator about the inspection and give 28 days notice of the inspection.

Inspections will be undertaken:-

(a) For a new licence. Once during the first year and the second not later than 6 months before the end of year 4.

(b) For a renewed licence or fresh licence granted to the holder of an existing licence. Once during the third year and the second not later than 6 months before the end of year 6.

Who will carry out the inspections?

Three (3) inspectors appointed by the local authority who appear competent, including one vet and two inspectors nominated after consultation with the Secretary of State. (A zoo operator may ask for this number to be reduced.)

The zoo operator is notified of the names of the inspectors. The zoo operator can object to the local authority about any of the inspections. This objection may be upheld by the authority or the Secretary of State.

The zoo operator can have up to three representatives present, one of these might have to be the zoo's vet.

The inspectors will look at:

• Health, welfare and safety of public and animals including measures for prevention of escape, and the records kept under any site condition.
• The report will be sent to the local authority who will notify the zoo operator of any recommendations within one month. The operator will be allowed to comment on the recommendations.

Special inspections

May be undertaken by the local authority if it considers it necessary to do so because of:-

• A periodical report.
• Any representations made to local authority or on behalf of a properly constituted body concerned with any aspect of the zoo management or its animal welfare.
• An informal inspection.
• Any other circumstances which will call for an investigation.

The inspection will be by:-

• A Person or persons who appear to the local authority to be competent and who are authorised by the local authority to do so.
• If it relates to the health of animals it must be a vet with experience of animals kept in a zoo.
• Local authority must communicate to the inspector and the operator the purpose and scope of the inspection.

Informal inspections

These are once in any calendar year where NO other inspection has been made and by an appointed person from this Council.