A dog breeding licence is required by anyone who either:
a. breeds three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period; or
b. breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs.
You do not have to be a registered business to be in the business of selling dogs. Individuals can also be classed as businesses depending on the extent of their activities.
To work out whether you are a business, we use the Business Test. We look at whether you carry on the activity with a view to making a profit, or if you earn any fee from the activity. We also consider whether you advertise and how often you advertise. We have powers to gather information from social media, Pets4Homes and other selling sites.
Ultimately, if you make a profit from breeding and selling dogs, you require a licence. Anyone who breeds dogs without a licence commits an offence and we may pursue a prosecution.
Statutory Guidance has been issued for Local Authorities, which can be found on the Government website.
If you are still unsure whether you require a licence, please email licensing@northlincs.gov.uk
Conditions
Any licence granted is subject to conditions. The local authority must also be satisfied the conditions will be met prior to the grant of a licence. These conditions are laid out in the Schedules of the above Regulations. Conditions related to breeding dogs are published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Downloadable application forms
An animal activity licence application form (Part A) [PDF, 291 KB] can be downloaded, printed and sent to us along with an application form for dog breeding (Part F) [PDF, 267 KB].
Both forms are required for the application. All documents supporting this application must be supplied within 3 working days, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.
Timescale
We aim to process applications within 10 weeks, however this may take longer if further information is required or if it proves difficult to make the arrangements for the inspection.