Exotic, dangerous or wild animals licence

How to get a licence

1. Please contact Pest Control, and we will post the application form to you.
2. Complete the form and send it back to us (see contact Pest Control for the postal address). You also need to send us with you application:
   • a cheque for the licence fee of £350 (payable to 'Greenwich Council').
3. We will send an officer and a vet to visit you (there will be a separate fee for the vet). This officer will check that the conditions, cages, food and other arrangements are suitable for the animal.
4. If you pass the inspection, we will issue you with a licence. This licence is subject to our standard conditions, and may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to your circumstances.
5. Where a licence is granted, that licence and any subsequent licence will expire on 31 December of the year to which the licence relates.
6. You must renew your licence before this date if you want to keep the animal(s) named on the licence.

Offences and penalties

• Anybody found guilty of keeping an animal covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 without a licence may be fined up to £2,000.
• Anybody found guilty of failing to comply with the conditions of their licences may be fined up to £2,000.
• If you have no licence, or are not complying with the licence conditions, we may take the animal and have it destroyed or rehoused (to a zoo or elsewhere). We will bill you for any costs that we incur in doing this.
• Anybody found guilty of obstructing or delaying an authorised inspection may be fined up to £2,000.

Further information