Dangerous Wild Animals

You need a licence if you plan to keep any animals listed in the Schedule attached to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

Businesses who are operating under the authority of a zoo, circus or pet shop licence are excluded from the licensing requirements.

The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) (No.2) Order 2007 is a Schedule of all animals which require a DWA licence.

Certain Hybrid or cross-bred animals may need a licence, depending on how far removed the animal is from its wild ancestor. If you are unsure you can contact St Albans Council Licensing Team via email: animallicensing@stalbans.gov.uk 

• SCHEDULE - KINDS OF DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS ( pdf - 65.42 KB )

All applicants must be over the age of 18 and must not be excluded from Keeping a Dangerous Wild Animal under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

An applicant must show a specialist knowledge in the species they wish to keep, with a clear understanding of its needs and welfare. They must have a clear understanding of the risks involved in caring for an animal listed on the DWA schedule.

It is recommended you make contact with the councils Licensing Team via email: animallicensing@stalbans.gov.uk to discuss submitting your proposed plans before an official application is made. 

To apply, please fill in our Dangerous Wild Animal Licence Form (found below). We aim to process all applications within 10 weeks.

Existing licence holders will need to apply to renew their licences at least 10 weeks before the expiry date of their existing licence in order to ensure continuity of cover.

New applicants will need to apply for a licence at least 10 weeks before they plan to operate.

Please email details to animallicensing@stalbans.gov.uk 

In order for an application to be considered complete the following must have been received:

• Valid application form
• Fee
• Risk Assessment
• Floor Plan
• Insurance

Once the above is received an inspection will be organised.

Please note: if you are applying for a licence for the first time, you will be refused a licence if you cannot meet the required minimum prescribed standards.

The application costs are listed below but do not include additional vets charges.

Dangerous wild animals - £406.00

No licence will be granted unless there has been a veterinary inspection. You will need to pay the cost of all inspections carried out by our authorised veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner, all payments are to be made prior to the grant of a licence.

Tacit approval will not apply to this type of licence because it is in the public interest that St Albans Council must process your application before it can be granted. 

• Dangerous Wild Animals Application form ( docx - 71.62 KB )

Once an application is received it will be checked by the councils Appointed Animal Licensing Inspector. They will be in touch with you to discuss your application and will liaise with the our authorised veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner and yourself to arrange a suitable time to carry out your inspection. 

All premises are inspected prior to a licence being granted. The inspectors consider the following:

granting a licence is not contrary to the public interest to do so on the grounds of safety, nuisance or other grounds;

the applicant is a suitable person to keep the animals concerned; 

the applicants has strong knowledge of the species and the species welfare needs and requirements

the animal(s) will be kept in accommodation that prevents its escape and is suitable in respect of construction, size, temperature, drainage and cleanliness;

the animal(s) will be supplied with adequate and suitable food, drink and bedding material and be visited at suitable intervals.

appropriate steps will be taken to ensure the protection of the animal(s) in case of fire or other emergency;

all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases

the animal(s) accommodation is such that it can take adequate exercise.

 

All premises will be inspected before the licence is granted. The inspector will be looking to make sure the applicant has the following:

A specialist knowledge in the species that they are caring for and a clear understanding of its needs and welfare (including the animals' mental and physical health, feeding and knowledge of environmental enrichment)

An understanding of risks involved in caring for the animal

The premises itself will also be assessed against recognised standards relating to the physical environment in which the animals will be kept.

If an inspection is successful and all outstanding costs have been received, a licence alongside a set of conditions will be granted. A licence is granted for 2 years. 

Where a licence is issued, it will be subject to conditions which will specify that:

• only the person named on the licence shall be entitled to keep the animal;
• the animal shall only be kept on the premises named on the licence;
• the animal shall not be moved or may only be moved in accordance with conditions specified in the licence;
• the licensee must hold a current insurance policy, approved by us, which insures against liability for damage caused by the animal;
• only the species and number of animals listed on the licence may be kept;
• the licensee shall make a copy of the licence and its contents available to any other person listed on the licence as being able to look after the animal; 
• we may at any time revoke or amend any licence condition, apart from those covered in the list above.

Alongside the above conditions, the council will include any other conditions considered necessary. 

It is advisable for you to speak to the Appointed Animal Licensing Inspector first to discuss why you have not been successful and what would be required before a licence would be granted.

You can appeal either against a refusal of licence, or of any conditions attached to it. You need to appeal to a Magistrates' Court.

A number of offences and penalties apply.

If you are found guilty of keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence, or fail to comply with any licence conditions, you could be fined up to £2,000.

If you are found guilty of obstructing or delaying an inspector, authorised veterinary practitioner or surgeon, you could be fined up to £2,000.

If you keep a dangerous wild animal without a licence, or if you fail to comply with a licence condition, we may seize the animal from you and either have it destroyed or disposed of (to a zoo or elsewhere) without compensating you. If we incur any costs doing this then you will be liable to pay.

Please visit the Public Register Of Licences And Registrations

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for on the public register please send your request toanimallicensing@stalbans.gov.uk