General Licensing
Although the Licensing Team deal primarily with Private Hire & Hackney Carriage Licensing, The Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005; there are many other Licences we are responsible for issuing and enforcing. You can find these Licences listed below, please click on the link most relevant to your enquiry.
Animal Boarding
The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 requires that premises for boarding dogs and cats (kennels and catteries) must be licensed by the local authority. Environmental Protection Officers visit each premises to check compliance with the legislation and licence conditions prior to issuing of a licence.
A licence under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 is
needed to open and run a cattery or kennels, even if you conduct
the business from your home. Before granting a licence an
Environmental Protection Officer or veterinary surgeon appointed by
the council will inspect the premises to ensure they comply with
the legal requirements of the Act.
The fee for an Animal Boarding Licence is £165 and an inspection is
carried out prior to issuing the licence. Spot inspections are also
carried out during the year to check compliance with the licence
conditions. The licence seeks to ensure the health and welfare of
the animals and that the premises is being run in accordance with
Act.
Applicants can apply for a Joint Animal Boarding and Dog Breeding Licence for a fee of £230.
Animal Boarding matters are controlled by the Environmental Protection Team.
Artists Licences
Artists are regulated under the Cheshire County Council Act of 1980, under the Act selling items on a street is illegal without having a Licence issued by Chester City Council. The Licensing Team issue two categories of Artists Licence; Default and Full.
There are seven Artists Pitches along the Groves area of the City Centre. Full Licence Holders are granted permanent rights to one of those pitches. Default Licence Holders are able to use any of the picthes if they are available, however should the full Licence Holder for that pitch arrive before 12pm, the Default Holder must relinquish the pitch and allow the Full Licence Holder to trade.
The fee for a Full Licence is £300, a Default Licence costs £180. Both Licences must be renewed annually.
Chester City Council issues a maximum of Seven Full and Seven Default Licences. At present these are all issued so we are unable to accept new applications.
Body Piercing (Inlcuding Acupuncture, Tattooing & Electrolysis)
Under the provisions of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982 (as amended by the Local Government Act 2003) the City Council is required to register both practitioners and premises, within its area, who are engaged in the business of tattooing, body colouring, ear piercing, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis and acupuncture. Bye-Laws have also been adopted to ensure the hygeine of premises, people and equipment.
The registration fees are:
- Tattooist Practitioner £295 and £295 for Premises Registration.
- Practitioner of Ear & Body Piercing, Acupuncture and Electrolysis is £75 and £75 for Premises Registration.
Body Piercing Licences controlled by the Health & Safety Team.
Chester City Council Byelaws for Body Piercing
Dangerous Wild Animals
Certain species require special Licences to be issued. These Licences are regulated by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. It is against the law to keep an animal listed under this Act without first obtaining a Licence from their Local Authority.
The fee for the Licence is dependant on the amount of animals being kept:
1 to 2 animals £180
3 to 4 animals £250
more than 4 animals £320
The animals for which a licence is required before they may be kept are listed in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) Order 1984 which can be downloaded from the list below. (Please note that you will require Adobe Reader software to view this file. This can be downloaded free of charge from www.adobe.co.uk)
(18Kb)
Dangerous Wild Animals matters are controlled by the Environmental Protection Team.
Dog Breeding
Under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, as amended by the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, you must have a licence from the local authority to keep a breeding establishment for dogs. Premises must be inspected by an Authorised Officer of the Local Authority and a vet prior to issuing of the licence.
No person may keep a breeding establishment without first obtaining a licence from the local authority. A "breeding establishment" means: any premises where more than two bitches are kept for the purposes of breeding for sale.
An application for a licence must be made to the local authority. A licence may be issued if the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following Acts.
• The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.
• The Pet Animals Act 1951.
• The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954.
• The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act
1934.
There is an application fee of £155 which must be paid at the time the application is made.
Applicants can apply for a Joint Animal Boarding and Dog Breeding Licence for a fee of £230.
Dog Breeding matters are controlled by the Environmental Protection Team.
House to House Collections
Any person or organisation planning to make charitable collections by way of door to door visits must apply to the Local Authority for that area and apply for a House to House Collections Permit.
Collecting money for a Charity must be strictly regulated and Licensed to protect the Public, the Collectors and the Charity.
Those eligible for a Permit must be over 16, must provide proof that there will be no personal material gain made from the collection and that all monies made will be donated to a pre-determined registered Charity. Written consent from the Charity authorising the collection on their behalf must be provided, the collector must also provide detailed information on the aims and objectives of the Charity. There is no fee for a House to House Collections Permit.
Pet Shops
The Pet Animals Act 1951 regulates the sale of pet animals from licensed pet shops. The licence sets standards to ensure the welfare of the animals and the management of the premises. The premises will be inspected by an authorised officer at least once a year on renewal of the licence and the officer may be accompanied by a Vet.
The fee for a Pet Shop Licence £107, for an application form please click the link below.
Pet Shop matters are controlled by the Environmental Protection Team.
Riding Establishments
In order to provide riding lessons or hire out horses for payment, a licence is required under the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970. Licenses are issued by the local authority and are subject to a satisfactory vets inspection. The local authority may impose additional conditions before issuing a licence.
A Riding Establishment is defined as "the carrying on of a business of keeping horses to let them out for hire for riding or riding instruction". The council will arrange for the inspection of horses and premises by a veterinary surgeon to ensure the welfare of the animals and that the accommodation is suitable. The licence will be issued subject to compliance with licence conditions and payment of the licence fee of £140. For an application form, click the link below.
Riding Establishment matters are controlled by the Environmental Protection Team.
Scrap Metal Dealers
The dealing in scrap metal or the running of a scrap metal business is controlled by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964. No person may carry on the business of a scrap metal dealer unless they are registered to do so by their Local Authority. To apply for registration, click the application forms link below.
Sex Establishments
Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, covers the licensing of Sex Shops and Sex Cinemas. All applications must be advertised in the local press. In addition, where the application is in respect of a premise, a notice must be displayed outside the premises. The local authority is responsible for processing applications and issuing of licences. The fee for a Sex Establishment Licence is £4,800 for a new application, £3,750 upon renewal and £2,250 to transfer an existing Licence.
Street Collections (Charitable)
There are two different permits issued for Charitable Street Collections, Localised Collections and Flag Day Collections. As with House to House Collections, applicants must be able to demonstrate they have the permission of the Registered Charity and that all proceeds will be given to the Charity.
Flag Day Street Collections
Flag days are on alternate Saturdays begining the first Saturday in April and the end of November. They also occur on alternate Fridays from the begining of June to the end of August. Charities are only allocated one Flag Day per year, due to the high demand for these permits, your application for the coming year must be submitted no later than 31st December of the previous year. Application forms can be obtained by clicking the link below.
Localised Street Collections
Localised Street Collections can be held on any day other than a Flag Day but restrict the Permit Holder to a specific area and to a specific number of people. Localised Collections are traditionally accompanied by an Activity to raise money (Such as Entertainment). Application forms can be obtained by clicking the link below.
There is no charge for either a Flag Day or Standard Charitable Street Collections Permit.
Print this page | Page Last Updated: 18 June 2008 08:46