In England, a business that sells animals as pets needs a licence from its local council, and sellers who work from home or online are not exempt. Defra publishes two GOV.UK documents on the scheme: a short page for businesses, last updated on 2 February 2021, and statutory guidance for local authority inspectors, whose GOV.UK page data lists a last update on 1 June 2026. This guide reads the rules from the buyer’s side. It covers England only, it is general information, and the licensing council decides each case.
Does the Seller Need a Licence?
The GOV.UK page says a licence is needed for a business that sells animals as pets, or sells animals that will later be resold as pets. It adds that selling animals in a public place, such as a market stall, is not allowed. Someone who sells a small number of offspring from pets bred as a hobby does not need a licence, but the page warns that doing this often, or with many animals, may make the seller a business.
The inspector guidance explains how that line is drawn. It asks whether the seller makes a sale to make a profit or earns a commission or fee. It lists signs that point to a business, including buying animals and then re-advertising or selling them within a short period, and advertising many animals at once, including on classified websites, even where no sale is completed online. It also says a person with trading income below the HMRC trading income allowance does not need a licence, while income above the allowance does not automatically make someone a business.
What an Advert Must Show
The inspector guidance says any advertisement for the sale of an animal must include:
- the number of the licence holder’s licence;
- the local authority that issued the licence;
- a recognisable photograph of the animal advertised;
- the animal’s age, except in the case of fish;
- the country of residence of the animal being sold from;
- the animal’s country of origin.
The guidance adds that adverts for dogs and cats must use a specific photograph, while a stock photograph of the species is acceptable for other species. Country of origin means the country of birth of that animal or, where this is not known, the country of export. The same guidance says a licence holder’s name followed by the licence number must be shown on any website used for the activity. It states that these rules apply to adverts to the public, not to in-store sales or sales between businesses.
What Staff Must Tell a Buyer
According to the inspector guidance, the licence holder and staff must give a prospective owner information on the care of the animal, covering feeding, housing, handling, husbandry, life expectancy, suitable accessories and veterinary care. Written or electronic pet care information must be handed over at the point of sale, and the guidance says it should outline the five welfare needs in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Staff must also tell the purchaser the animal’s country of origin and species and, where known, its age, sex and veterinary record, including whether it was wild caught or captive bred.
The guidance also gives staff the right to refuse a sale if they are not satisfied, to the best of their knowledge, that the prospective owner can meet the animal’s welfare needs. For rabbits sold singly, staff must ask whether the buyer already owns a suitable companion rabbit. For parrots sold singly, the business should explain the bird’s need for daily companionship.
Animals That Should Not Be on Sale
GOV.UK says a licensed business cannot sell puppies, kittens, ferrets or rabbits less than 8 weeks old, and cannot sell puppies or kittens it has not bred itself. The inspector guidance goes further for dogs and cats: puppies and kittens can only be sold by their breeder, who must be the same named person as the licence holder, and the sale of a dog must be completed in the purchaser’s presence on the premises. It also says an animal receiving medical treatment must not be sold, and that an animal with an abnormality affecting its quality of life must not be offered for sale.
For puppies and kittens, the inspector guidance says businesses should expect prospective buyers to ask to see the offspring with the mother before deciding. Inspectors are told to view the mother and offspring in the environment that will be used for potential buyers.
What the Council Does and What Happens Without a Licence
GOV.UK says the council inspects before a licence is granted and may carry out extra inspections at any time. A licence lasts 1, 2 or 3 years, and the council decides its length and cost. A person who has committed animal welfare offences, or who has been banned from activities that include selling pets, will not get a licence. For a business that sells pets without one, GOV.UK gives a penalty of up to 6 months in prison or an unlimited fine, and an unlimited fine for breaking licence conditions.
Where This Guidance Stops
The inspector document says it should be read alongside the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. This guide is based on the two GOV.UK documents and does not reproduce the regulations themselves. The business page says the council decides the cost and length of each licence, so questions about a particular seller or licence go to that council.
The bottom line
For England, GOV.UK says businesses selling animals as pets need a licence, including home-based and online sellers, and may not sell in public places. Defra’s inspector guidance says adverts must carry the licence number, the issuing council, a recognisable photograph, the age (except fish) and the countries of residence and origin, that buyers must be given care information, and that puppies and kittens may only be sold by their licensed breeder. A buyer who is unsure whether a seller needs a licence can ask the seller’s local council.
Sources
- Selling animals as pets licence (England), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, GOV.UK, published 4 November 2020, last updated 2 February 2021, read 9 November 2026 (gov.uk)
- Selling animals as pets licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, GOV.UK, first published 1 February 2022, last updated 1 June 2026 per GOV.UK page data, read 9 November 2026 (gov.uk)