Lewes District Council

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Environmental Health
Lewes District Council
Southover House
Southover Road
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1AB


Tel: 01273 484354
ehealth@lewes.gov.uk
Minicom 01273 484488

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Zoo Licences

Information to operate a zoo and how to apply for a licence, including fees and details of conditions.

Who Should Apply

Any people keeping wild animals as defined in Section 21 of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 for the purpose of public exhibition, on more than seven days in any consecutive 12 months. This excludes circuses, pet shops or registered establishments for carrying out animal experiments.

More information is available by visiting the Zoo licensing pages on DEFRA’s website. We will work in close partnership with DEFRA on all aspects of zoo licensing.


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Apply Online

We work in partnership with Business Link to issue all of our licences online. You will be required to follow these steps: 

  1. Complete the Business Link questionnaire on 'Your Business'
  2.  Receive a checklist of all licences that apply to you
  3. Apply for each licence from the Business Link results page.

By creating a Business Link account, your results will be stored in your profile. You may log-in and return to them in your own time. In addition to listing all the licences required, the questionnaire results will also detail the regulations your business should meet as well as provide further help and guidance.


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Apply By Post

You can apply for a licence by downloading the document below and completing it on paper. Please return it to us by post or email.

Tel:  01273 484354
Email: licensing@lewes.gov.uk

Environmental Health
Lewes District Council
Southover House
Southover Road,Lewes
BN7 1AB

Application Requirements

Applicant(s) must, at least two months prior to making application, give notice in writing to us of their intention to make application and publish a notice of that intention in a local and national newspaper.  In addition a copy of that notice must be exhibited at the site. An application form, and any relevant documentation, must then be submitted to us. 

Fees

 A licence is £525

An additional fee to cover the work undertaken by the Zoo Inspectors will apply during the processing of the application.

Processing Applications

Once a completed application is received, together with the fee, we will arrange for the premises to be inspected by a DEFRA appointed Zoo Inspector and our own Authorised Officer.  Your own Veterinary Surgeon should also be in attendance at the inspection.

The Zoo Inspector will make the decision whether to grant the Licence or not. Any licence granted will be subject to conditions and possible actions required within certain timescales. An initial Licence will be granted for four years. Following this a renewed licence will run for six years.

Premises will be inspected by Authorised Officers on an annual basis with an interim inspection by a Zoo Inspector at two year intervals for the initial licence and three year intervals for a renewed licence. The Zoo inspectors fees for the interim inspection will be payable by the Licence holder.

Unsuccessful Applications

You will be notified by letter and may within 21 days appeal to a Magistrates Court.

Register

Register of Licences

We keep a public register of all licences issued and held within the Lewes district. Search online for details now.