Primate licensing

Before you apply

Before applying, read the The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 SI 2024 No. 296.

The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who meet new welfare and licensing standards will be able to keep primates, to provide greater legal protection for pet primates.

The measures come into force from  6 April 2026 when all primates in England will need to be kept to these zoo-level standards - in effect banning the practice of keeping primates as pets.

It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are currently kept in domestic settings as pets in the UK. These wild animals have complex welfare and social needs and, according to most experts, cannot be properly cared for in these environments. The new measures will improve the welfare of potentially thousands of these intelligent animals.

How to apply

Contact us to apply for a primate licence

To ensure your premises meets the requirements, a vet will inspect them. The fee for this is not included in the application fee and will be requested separately.

To grant your licence, we must make sure that:

• the primate will be kept at an address within the Borough
• the applicant is 18 years old or over
• the applicant is not disqualified from keeping primates
• all required information has been received
• the licence conditions can be met
• Public Liability Insurance providing sufficient cover against any damage which may be caused by the animal should it escape is in place
• a fee has been paid

What happens next?

Tacit consent does not apply in respect of these applications.

Tacit consent means that if we have not dealt with licence applications within the target period then the application can be deemed to have been granted or approved.

It is in the public interest that we process your application before it can be granted.

If you have not heard from us within 10 working days, contact us at licensing@stockton.gov.uk.

Refusals

If we refuse your application, you may be able to appeal this decision to the Magistrates' Court or First-Tier Tribunal.

Full details will be included in any refusal notice.

Contact us

Contact the Licensing Team for advice on any licence or to make a complaint about a licensed business.

Phone: 01642 524802 

Email: licensing@stockton.gov.uk