If you are new to the whole or an area of animal activities licensing and require advice and guidance on applying for a Dangerous Wild Animals licence, we offer a pre-application advice service. The fee for this service is £70 plus VAT.
Please note: we cannot offer pre-application advice to any person who is subject to compliance/intervention or enforcement action by the Licensing Team.
If you would like to book a pre-application advice meeting please email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk
Before applying for a dangerous wild animals licence, please read the licensing policy which outlines East Riding of Yorkshire Council's approach to licensing Dangerous Wild Animals and our full considerations.
Dangerous wild animals policy 2021-2026 (word 249kb)
To apply for a dangerous wild animal licence you must be over 18 years of age and not disqualified from keeping dangerous wild animals. You can download the DWA application form using the link below:
Apply online for a dangerous wild animals licence
Your application must include the following information.
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specifies the species (whether one or more) of animal, sexes and the number of animals of each species, proposed to be kept:
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specifies the premises where any animal concerned will normally be held.
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the application must be made to the local authority where the animals are or are proposed to be kept:
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the application must be made by a person who is neither under the age of 18 nor disqualified under this Act from keeping any dangerous wild animal:
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is accompanied by a fee determined by the Authority as sufficient to meet the direct and indirect costs which it may incur as a result of the application,
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a plan of the premises where the animals will be kept and site plan of neighbouring properties must be provided identifying any key buildings nearby; hospitals, schools etc.
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Public Liability insurance covering a minimum of 10 million cover
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Details of all qualifications and experience of the applicant and any second named keepers.
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A basic police check for both the applicant and any named second keepers to ensure no party has any relevant convictions that may disqualify the parties from keeping the animal(s). This check must be less than 6 weeks old at the point of application.
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Application fee of £370.
Upon receipt of a complete application, we will advertise your application publicly (including your full name and address) for 21 days and we reserve the right to contact businesses/public services that live or have a business in the immediate vicinity or other agencies, relevant interested bodies or others, including, but not limited to the Police, the Fire Authority and the RSPCA, in order to confirm whether an applicant is disqualified from keeping animals or to seek advice or information to enable the Authority to make its determination in relation to the objectives below.
A qualified vet will be appointed by the local authority whose costs must be met by the applicant, prior to any inspection.
The vet will be instructed to look at issues covering suitability of the accommodation/suitability of the applicant in terms of their handling skill/ experience and their views on qualification relating to species. The vet will also consider the animals ability to express their natural behaviour and knowledge of the owner to promote the animals welfare.
A full report will then be sent to the Licensing Authority to consider in conjunction will all aspects of the application.
Before granting a licence we, as the local authority, will consider the application and must be satisfied that:
- That it is not contrary to the public interest to grant the application, on the grounds of public safety, public nuisance or otherwise.
- The applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence to keep the animals listed on the licence.
- The animal(s) will be kept in accommodation that prevents 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 will be visited at suitable intervals.
- appropriate steps will be taken to ensure the protection of the animal(s) and the licence holder particularly in the case of fire or emergency if working alone with dangerous wild animals.
- All reasonable precautions are taken to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
- All animal(s) accommodation as such that it can take adequate exercise, and fully meet its welfare needs.
A licence may be approved or refused by the Licensing authority, the grant of a licence is discretionary.
If granted we will issue your licence subject to a number of mandatory conditions, in respect of the care and security of the animal. There may also be additional specific conditions felt appropriate by the licensing authority. These will be tailored depending on the species your licence allows you to keep. You may need time to make any adjustments necessary before obtaining the animals. Further conditions may be added to your licence while in force, although these will be discussed with you first.
Will tacit consent apply?
No, it is in the public interest for reasons of public safety that the authority must process your application before it can be granted.
The target period for processing a correctly completed application is 60 days from receipt. In some cases, a longer period may be necessary. Reputable suppliers will check the licence before releasing the animals to you, so it is important that you factor this in when arranging for any shipping or quarantine of animals. You should also consider what measures will have to be taken to accommodate the animals if your application is refused.