Zoo Licensing Act 1981

1 Licensing of zoos by local authorities. E+W+S

(1) Subject to this section it is unlawful to operate a zoo to which this Act applies except under the authority of a licence issued under this Act by the local authority for the area within which the whole or the major part of the zoo is situated.

(2) In this Act “zoo” means an establishment where wild animals (as defined by section 21) are kept for exhibition to the public otherwise than for purposes of a circus (as so defined) [F1 in England] and otherwise than in a pet shop (as so defined) F2 ...

[F3 (2A) This Act applies to any zoo to which members of the public have access, with or without charge for admission, on seven days or more in any period of twelve consecutive months.

(2B) This Act also applies in accordance with its terms to any zoo to which members of the public do not have such access if a licence is in force in respect of it or as otherwise provided (in particular, in sections 13 and 16C to 16G).

(2C) In this Act—

(a) a section of a zoo means—

(i) a particular part of the zoo premises;

(ii) animals of a particular description in the zoo; or

(iii) animals of a particular description which are kept in a particular part of the zoo premises; and

(b) references to the closure of a section of a zoo to the public mean—

(i) the closure to the public of a particular part of the zoo premises;

(ii) ceasing to exhibit animals of a particular description to the public; or

(iii) ceasing to exhibit animals of a particular description to the public in a particular part of the zoo premises.]

(3) The local authorities for the purposes of this Act are—

(a) in England F4 . . ., the district councils, the councils of London boroughs and the Common Council of the City of London;

[F5 (aa) in Wales, the councils of counties and county boroughs;]

(b) in Scotland, the [F6 councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994].

F7 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 1(2) inserted (W.) (1.12.2020) by Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020 (asc 2), ss. 8(2), 12 (with ss. 9, 10)

F2 Words in s. 1(2) omitted (E.) (8.1.2003) by virtue of S.I. 2002/3080, regs. 1(1), 2, 4(a) (which omission is extended (W.) (22.4.2003) by virtue of The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/992), regs. 1(1), 2(1), Sch. para. 1(a) (with reg. 4)); and (S.) (1.4.2003) by virtue of The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/174), regs. 1(1), 4(a)

F3 S. 1(2A)-(2C) inserted (E.) (8.1.2003) by S.I. 2002/3080, regs. 1(1), 2, 4(b) (which insertion is extended (W.) (22.4.2003) by virtue of the The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/992), regs. 1(1), 2(1), Sch. para. 1(b) (with reg. 4)) and (S.) (1.4.2003) by The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/174), regs. 1(1), 4(b)

F4 Words in s. 1(3)(a) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6)(8), Sch. 16 para. 62(1), Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2

F5 S. 1(3)(aa) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 62(1) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2

F6 Words in s. 1(3)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 124; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(b)(c)

F7 S. 1(4) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 1