Licence for dog breeding
If you breed dogs as part of a business or produce three or more litters in a year and sell any puppies, you must have a dog breeding licence. The licence ensures breeders meet strict welfare standards, including safe housing, proper nutrition, and protection from harm.
On this page
— The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
— Applying for a licence
— Conditions, standards and guidance
— Licence fees
— Inspections
— Refusal, revocation, suspension or variation of a licence
— Thinking of buying a puppy?
— Lucy's Law
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
A breeding establishment is defined as any premises where the business of breeding of dogs for sale is carried on. A person will be presumed to be carrying on a business where, during any 12 month period, three or more litters are born at the premises and one puppy or more is sold. A decision as to whether a breeder with bitches producing fewer than three litters a year needs to be licensed will depend on whether the breeder concerned is carrying on a business: this can only be determined by the local authority on the facts of each case.
Each premises will be risk rated at inspection and will be given a star rating from 1 to 5, which will also determine whether the premises is granted a licence for 1, 2 or 3 years.
The full text of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 is available to read online.
Applying for a licence
To make an application, complete the online form - you can register with our website or use the 'Guest' button, which does not require you to sign in.
Please note that an application for a licence renewal must be received more than 10 weeks before the current licence expires. Failure to do so may result in the licence not being renewed in time and, thus a period where the business can not operate.
Please contact us if you have any queries:
- Email: eh@winchester.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01962 848097
Conditions, standards and guidance
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force on 1st October 2018.
You must comply with all of the minimum standards listed in the Dog breeding licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities document to achieve a licence and as well as a physical inspection of the premises, evidence of all relevant paperwork and qualifications will need to be seen at your inspection.
You are also advised to read these two documents before starting your business:
- Canine And Feline Sector Group Guidance on Dog Conformation (PDF - opens in a new tab)
- Dog Breeding Reform Group's Code Of Practice On Dog Breeding (PDF - opens in a new tab)
Licence fees
The fees for Dog Breeders for 2024/25 (as revised in accordance with the Regulations) are £433. Your first inspection will require a vet and the cost of this will be recharged to the applicant.
You are still responsible for the veterinary fees for your first licensing inspection. We will invoice you for this cost separately after the inspection.
For subsequent inspections, a vet is not usually needed unless the inspecting officers considers the presence of a vet necessary. We would invoice you for this cost separately after the inspection.
Should the licensee apply for a reinspection, this must be done in writing, setting out the work that has been completed and the reasons for the reinspection. The full fee is payable for a reinspection.
Fees are for application and, once an application has been made, are unlikely to be refunded unless there are exceptional circumstances. Requests for refunds will be considered by the Environmental Health Manager.
Inspections
Appointed veterinary surgeons and practitioners, appropriately qualified local authority officers, or other competent persons authorised by the local authority may inspect licensed premises and any animals at such premises at any reasonable time. Note that, if a veterinary surgeon or practitioner is required to attend an inspection, these charges will be passed on to the applicant in addition to the Council's licence fees.
There will normally only be one inspection for each licence granted but further inspections may be made to check that licence conditions have been complied with, if a complaint is received about the premises, or if there is any concern about the condition of the premises, or the welfare of an animal at the premises.
For new applicants, there may be works or paperwork to be completed following inspection before a licence can be granted. These will need to be completed as quickly as possible and, in the event that the applicant has not completed required works within a year of inspection, the licence will automatically be refused.
Unlicensed premises may also be inspected in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Please contact us if you have any queries:
- Email: eh@winchester.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01962 848097
Refusal, revocation, suspension or variation of a licence
A licence will be refused:
- if the applicant is under 18
- if the applicant has been disqualified from holding an animal licence or keeping an animal, or has had a licence revoked under Section 15 of the Regulations
- if conditions of the licence are not met.
The applicant may appeal to a First-tier Tribunal if the Council refuses to grant or renew a licence.
A licence may be varied, suspended or revoked by the Council for the following reasons:
- the licence conditions are not being complied with
- there has been a breach of the Regulations
- the information supplied by the licensee is false or misleading, or
- it is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal.
Any significant change to the premises may require a variation to your licence. The licensee may request a variation or the Council can impose one. This will involve a small charge. Please contact us on eh@winchester.gov.uk if you think a variation may be needed.
The licensee may appeal to a First-tier Tribunal if the Council has varied, suspended or revoked a licence.
Thinking of buying a puppy?
We have a list of licensed dog breeders in the District, the list is usually updated twice a year.
Remember that adverts posted by licensed breeders must include their licence number and the name of the Council they are licensed by. If they claim to be licensed by Winchester City Council, check with us before buying a puppy.
The Dogs Trust has good advice if you’re buying a puppy, their guide covers where to buy one, the key questions to ask, and what to look out for.
Lucy's Law
Lucy's Law is UK legislation, initially introduced in 2020, that prohibits the sale of puppies and kittens under six months of age by third-party dealers, such as pet shops.
The law requires buyers to deal directly with a licensed breeder or a reputable animal rescue centre, ensuring greater transparency and helping to end the cruel practice of puppy and kitten farming.
This Government press release from 2020 explains the law in more details.