UK Act of Parliament 1981 United Kingdom

Zoo Licensing Act 1981

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk

Status: In Force
Penalty ceiling: Prosecution 1 of 10 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 9 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Operator2 Applicant1 Any Person1

Plus 6 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

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Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts

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Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 66 duties

Applicant — also bound by 307 other Acts

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 46 duties

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 42 duties

The Land Registration Rules 2003 25 duties

Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 (Aircrew) 20 duties

Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 18 duties

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 184 duties

Merchant Shipping Act 1995 144 duties

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 104 duties

Communications Act 2003 92 duties

Road Traffic Act 1988 92 duties

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

s.002 Application for licence. Regulated

Give notice of intention to apply for a zoo licenceApplicant

s.010 Periodical inspections. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must carry out scheduled inspections of licensed zoosLocal authority

s.011 Special inspections of closed zoos Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authority may conduct special inspections of closed zoosLocal authority

s.012 Informal inspections. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authority must arrange annual informal zoo inspectionsLocal authority

s.013 Local authority zoos. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must notify the Secretary of State about zoo licensingLocal authority

s.016 Enforcement of licence conditions Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authority must issue enforcement directions for licence breachesLocal authority

s.016 Zoo closure direction for zoos without licences Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must issue closure directions to unlicensed zoosLocal authority

s.016 Welfare of animals following closure of zoo Regulated

Submit and implement an animal welfare plan after zoo closureOperator

s.019 Offences and penalties. Prosecution

Operate a zoo without a license or breach license conditionsAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.019 Directions Regulated

Comply with any directions issued by the local authorityOperator

26 other provisions — procedural and definitional

s.001 Licensing of zoos by local authorities.

s.001 Conservation measures for zoos

s.003 Consideration of application.

s.004 Grant or refusal of licence.

s.005 Period and conditions of licence.

s.006 Renewal of licence.

s.007 Transfer, transmission and surrender of licence.

s.008 Secretary of State’s list.

s.009 Secretary of State’s standards.

s.009 Procedure relating to inspections before the grant, refusal, renewal or significant alteration of licences

s.011 Special inspections.

s.014 Dispensation for particular zoos.

s.015 Fees and other charges.

s.016 Power to alter licences.

s.016 Zoo closure direction

s.016 Application of section 16E

s.016 Power of authority to dispose of animals

s.016 Powers of entry

s.017 Revocation of licence.

s.018 Appeals.

s.019 Electronic communications

s.020 Transitory provision for existing zoos.

s.021 Interpretation.

s.022 Consequential amendments.

s.022 Application of Act: England and Wales

s.023 Short title, commencement and extent.

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

1 more guide that reference this instrument

Set up and run a safe cultural activities operation

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.