Zoos
You will need a zoo licence if you:
- keep wild animals for exhibition
- allow members of the public to view the animals for seven or more days in a 12 month period
You can look at GOV.UK for information about licence conditions, how to apply for a licence and the penalties for operating without one.
Before you apply for a zoo licence, you must give at least two months notice.
Send us your notice
To send us your notice, you must:
- download and complete the form
- send your completed form and your evidence to safe.support@chelmsford.gov.uk
To complete your notice, you will need to provide:
- where the zoo will be
- what kind of animals you are going to keep
- how many animals you are going to keep
- how you’ll house and care for the animals
- staff numbers and what they will be doing
- expected visitor and vehicle numbers
- zoo entrance and exit points
- how you will meet the conservation conditions
You must also provide evidence that you have:
- published notices that you’re intending to apply in at least one local and one national newspaper
- displayed the notice at the planned zoo site
To apply for a licence, you will need to:
- download and fill in your application form
- upload your completed application form
- pay the fee of £478
Please wait message
If you seeing a 'Please wait...' message when viewing the application form, it means you are opening the document in a browser, rather than opening the downloaded file directly from your device. You can read our guidance on how to open the application form.
Once we receive your application, we will:
- acknowledge it within three working days
- carry out a site visit
- notify you of our decision
We will only grant your licence if you comply with all objectives and conditions.
If we need a veterinary inspection of your establishment as part of the application process, you will have to pay for the inspection.
If we do not grant your licence, we will not refund your licence fee or any veterinary inspection charges.
Your initial zoo licence will be valid for four years from the date we granted it.
You need to renew your initial licence at least six months before it expires.
Any subsequent licences will be valid for six years. You also need to renew any subsequent licences at least six months before it expires.
To renew your licence, you will need to:
- download and fill in your application form
- upload your completed application form
- pay the fee of £478
You can read our guidance about how to download the PDF application form.
If you disagree with our decision about your animal licence or a condition attached to the licence, you can appeal.
However, before you appeal you need to contact us so that we can explain why we made that decision.
You need to appeal within six months of receiving our decision.
You need to appeal in writing to:
Chelmsford Magistrates' Court and Family Court Hearing Centre
Court Administration Centre
PO Box 10754
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 9PZ
When you appeal, you need to give details of the licence, and why you disagree with our decision.