Application for licence.
- Give notice of intention to apply for a zoo licence Applicant
UK Act of Parliament
1981
United Kingdom
Zoo Licensing Act 1981
At a glance
What's here
10 compliance obligations
Penalty landscape
1 of 10 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 9 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Operator 2
- Applicant 1
- Any Person 1
Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Operators also bound by 128 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
- Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
- The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
- Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 duties
Applicants also bound by 149 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 22 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 20 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 20 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 12 duties
- Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 2017 10 duties
Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 78 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Periodical inspections.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must carry out scheduled inspections of licensed zoos Local authority
Special inspections of closed zoos
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority may conduct special inspections of closed zoos Local authority
Informal inspections.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must arrange annual informal zoo inspections Local authority
Local authority zoos.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must notify the Secretary of State about zoo licensing Local authority
Enforcement of licence conditions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must issue enforcement directions for licence breaches Local authority
Zoo closure direction for zoos without licences
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must issue closure directions to unlicensed zoos Local authority
Welfare of animals following closure of zoo
- Submit and implement an animal welfare plan after zoo closure Operator
Offences and penalties.
Fine up to £2,500- Operate a zoo without a license or breach license conditions Any Person
Directions
- Comply with any directions issued by the local authority Operator
Browse 26 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Licensing of zoos by local authorities.
Conservation measures for zoos
Consideration of application.
Grant or refusal of licence.
Period and conditions of licence.
Renewal of licence.
Transfer, transmission and surrender of licence.
Secretary of State’s list.
Secretary of State’s standards.
Procedure relating to inspections before the grant, refusal, renewal or significant alteration of licences
Special inspections.
Dispensation for particular zoos.
Fees and other charges.
Power to alter licences.
Zoo closure direction
Application of section 16E
Power of authority to dispose of animals
Powers of entry
Revocation of licence.
Appeals.
Electronic communications
Transitory provision for existing zoos.
Interpretation.
Consequential amendments.
Application of Act: England and Wales
Short title, commencement and extent.
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