Tacit consent
In some cases licences are deemed to be granted following a defined time period even if you have not heard from us (tacit consent). Where this applies it will be made clear on the application form, web page or within the legislation.
Animal Welfare Licensing fees for 2026 / 2027
Animal Welfare Licence Fees Summary – effective from 1 April 2026
There are 2 parts to licence fees except for zoos, dangerous wild animals and primates licences.
For each premises there are the following fees:
- Application Fee (either new or renewal) – payable for all applications. This fee is not refundable in any circumstances. Payable when an application form is submitted.
- Licence Issue Fee – this must be paid for your licence to be issued to you, after an inspection has been conducted.
These fees must be paid separately.
A discount of 50% of the lowest application/renewal fee will apply for multiple applications at the same site where the licence periods are aligned.
Where indicated vet fees are compulsory. There are however, circumstances where the Council may consider that a veterinary inspection is necessary. Where this is the case, the cost of the veterinary inspection will be payable by the applicant/licence holder.
In exceptional circumstances, where officers from other local authorities are used, this will be charged at cost.
Where a business moves premises during the lifetime of a licence, a new application will be required.
Making a payment
Payments can over the phone Monday to Friday (10am to 4pm) Phone:
- 01270 686601
- 01270 686720
- 01270 686597
or include a cheque with your application. Cheques should be made payable to Cheshire East Council.
Fees for animal licensing
| Type | Fee £ | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Dog breeding | Varies depending on the number of breeding bitches | |
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | + vet fee if required |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Dog breeding 1-2 breeding bitches | ||
| New application | £516 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £427 | |
| Licence issue fee | £382 | |
| Dog breeding 3-10 breeding bitches | ||
| New application | £684 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £570 | |
| Licence issue fee | £382 | |
| Dog breeding 11-25 breeding bitches | ||
| New application | £1215 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £1065 | |
| Licence issue fee | £1065 | |
| Dog breeding 26-50 breeding bitches | ||
| New application | £1826 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £1598 | |
| Licence issue fee | £1598 | |
| Dog breeding 51+ breeding bitches | ||
| New application | £2660 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £2431 | |
| Licence issue fee | £2431 | |
| Hiring of horses | Fee | An annual vet inspection is required even where a licence is issued for a 2 or 3 year period. |
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | + vet fee if required |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Hiring of horses up to 5 horses | ||
| New application | £399 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £360 | + vet fee |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Hiring of 6 or more horses | ||
| New application | £533 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £480 | + vet fee |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Selling animals as pets | ||
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | + vet fee if required |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Selling animals as pets – fish sales only in an independent or domestic premises | ||
| New application | £315 | + vet fee if required |
| Renewal of licence | £287 | + vet fee if required |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Selling animals as pets (other than premises above) | ||
| New application | £419 | + vet fee if required |
| Renewal of licence | £382 | + vet fee if required |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Animal boarding kennels,catteries and day care | ||
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | + vet fee if required |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Animal boarding – kennel or cattery with up to 10 dogs/cats or day care with up to 2 dogs | ||
| New application | £315 | |
| Renewal of licence | £287 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Animal boarding – kennel or cattery with more than 10 dogs/cats or day care with more than 2 dogs | ||
| New application | £419 | |
| Renewal of licence | £382 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Home boarding | ||
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | + vet fee if required |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Home boarding – up to 2 dogs | ||
| New application | £303 | |
| Renewal of licence | £268 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Home boarding – more than 2 dogs | ||
| New application | £403 | |
| Renewal of licence | £357 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Franchiser / arranger fee | ||
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Application fee (new application up to 3 hosts) | £426 | |
| Additional fee per additional host (more than 3) included in the licence application or added during the licence period | £81 | |
| Renewal of licence (up to 3 hosts) | £366 | |
| Additional fee per additional host (more than 3) included in the licence application or added during the licence period | £81 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Animal exhibits | ||
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Animal exhibits - up to 5 animals | ||
| New application | £343 | |
| Renewal of licence | £287 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Animal exhibits – more than 5 animals | ||
| New application | £456 | |
| Renewal of licence | £382 | |
| Licence issue fee | £243 | |
| Zoo licence | ||
| New application | £608 | + vet fee |
| Periodical inspection fee payable at 12 months after licence issued | £608 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £608 | + vet fee |
| Periodical inspection fee payable at 3 years after licence issued | £608 | + vet fee |
| Hourly rate for work in excess of 6 hours | £86 per hour | |
| Dangerous wild animal licence | ||
| New application | £397 | + vet fee |
| Renewal of licence | £351 | + vet fee |
| Primates | ||
| New application | £397 | + vet/other fee |
| Renewal of licence | £351 | + vet/other fee |
| Additional fees re dog breeding, hiring of horses, selling animals as pets, animal boarding (kennels, catteries, day care, home boarding) and animal exhibits only | ||
| Pre-application inspection – recommended for new premises – single activity | £169 | + vet fee if required |
| Pre-application inspection – fee per additional activity | £83 | |
| Variation or transfer of licence | £86 | |
| Re-evaluation of rating fee (including inspection) | £320 | |
| Re-visit fee | £169 | |
| Replacement licence fee | £25 | |
| Procedure writing up to 1.5 hours | £153 | |
| Procedure writing more than 1.5 hours charged at an hourly rate | £101 per hour | |
| Admin fee for anything not covered above | £77 per hour | |
| Late payment application fee charge for renewal applications and payments received within 10 weeks of current licence expiry date | £26 | |
| Joint licence fee – all licences (where there are multiple people on a licence and we issue certificates to each person) | £243 |
Charges and fees for 2026 / 2027
Food safety
| Type | Fee £ | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Food health certificates for exported food | 101 | Up to 1 hour, £82 per hour thereafter |
| Food hygiene course: Level 2 food safety in catering | 75 | One day course - dates advertised regularly We can also offer bespoke courses in your workplace, contact us for further details |
| Food safety training exam re-sit fee | 21 | |
| Voluntary surrender of food | 82 | Per hour + disposal costs |
| Primary authority agreements | 82 | Hourly rate |
| Food hygiene rating re-score visits | 168 | Must be accompanied by a completed application form |
| Food hygiene advisory visit | 164 | Maximum of 2 hours. Subsequent work charged at £82 per hour |
Sampling
| Type | Fee £ | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Private water supply - sample visit | 125 | + the analyst fee |
| Private water supply -re-sample visit | 63 | + the analyst fee |
| Private water supply - Farm Assurance sample visit | 100 | + the analyst fee |
| Private water supply - Risk Assessment | 224* | *£112 if a pre-visit questionnaire is completed and returned before the appointment date Divided proportionally between all the properties on the supply |
| Commercial swimming pool (re-sample) | 93 | The charge is £93 per sample point |
Provision of information
| Type | Fee £ | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Contaminated land requests (standard) | 86 | Per hour (requests are dealt with within 20 working days) |
| Environmental Information Requests | 86 | Per hour (if a charge is applicable notification of the estimated amount will be provided within 20 working days and the information will not be provided until the fee has been paid) |
| Review of reports prior to submission to Development Management or if rejected twice and resubmitted, as part of the Development Management process | 256 | This charge covers the first 3 hours or part thereof, any additional time will be charged at £86 per hour or part thereof |
Registration for practices on the body
(Acupuncture / tattooing / semi-permanent skin colouring / body piercing / ear piercing / electrolysis)
| Type | Fee £ | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a premises | 182 | Premises and initial applicant |
| Additional person at a registered premises | 80 | Additional applicant once premises licence granted |
| Administrative changes to existing registration | 39 | Does not include a change of premises address as this will require a new registration |
| Skin piercing temporary event | 246 | Min 3 hours, then £82 / additional hour |
Scrap metal dealers and motor salvage operators
| Type | Fee £ | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Collectors licence | 124 | Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 |
| Additional collectors licence | 35 | Per licence |
| Replacement collectors licence | 35 | Per licence |
| Site licence | 235 | |
| Replacement site licence | 35 | Per licence |