Pet Shop Licence in India — Registration with the State Animal Welfare Board
You cannot sell dogs, cats, birds or other pets from a shop without a certificate of registration under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018. The State Animal Welfare Board issues it for five years against a ₹5,000 fee. We prepare Form-I and the affidavit, line up the documents and follow the application through.
What it is
A pet shop licence is the certificate of registration that the Pet Shop Rules, 2018 require before anyone runs a pet business. The Rules cover any shop, place or premises where pet animals are sold, or kept or exhibited for sale. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, other rodents and birds all count as pet animals.
The Rules were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 12 September 2018 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The certificate comes from the State Animal Welfare Board of the state where the shop stands, not from the municipality. It does not replace your trade licence or shop registration. It sits next to them.
Who it applies to
You are opening a pet shop
Say you have taken a ground-floor unit in a Faridabad market to sell puppies, kittens and lovebirds. The certificate comes first. Stock comes second. Do not bring animals in and apply later.
You already run one without a certificate
A shop that has traded for years on a trade licence alone is still expected to register. Here is the catch: nobody asks until an inspector or a complaint arrives. Regularise before that day.
You sell through a website or app
The definition of a pet shop reaches online sellers too. If you take orders for live animals through a page or an app, check registration before you list a single one.
Why it matters
It makes the business lawful
Trade in pet animals without registration is not allowed. The certificate is what you show an inspector, a landlord or a bank. It settles the question in seconds.
It protects the animals and your stock
The Rules fix standards for housing, care and veterinary checks. Shops that follow them lose fewer animals. Fewer complaints follow.
It protects you from sealing and confiscation
Animals kept in poor conditions can be confiscated and handed to a recognised animal welfare organisation. You carry the cost of their care. A registered shop with clean records is a much safer position.
Documents required
About you and the shop
- Application in Form-I, signed by the owner
- Identity and address proof of the applicant (an adult of sound mind)
- Ownership or rent agreement for the premises
- Layout and details of space, ventilation, lighting and water supply
Affidavit and declarations
- Affidavit that the shop will follow the Rules
- List of animals and species you plan to keep for sale
- Details of food storage and cleaning arrangements
Supporting papers
- Name of the veterinary practitioner who will examine your animals
- Existing trade licence, shop registration or GST details, if any
- Proof of the ₹5,000 non-refundable fee paid
How it works
Check the premises against the Rules
We read your layout against the housing standards: a permanent structure, water, electricity, drainage, ventilation and enough floor space for each species. If a cage layout or a floor will fail, you hear it from us before you apply, not from the inspector.
Prepare Form-I and the affidavit
We draft the application, the affidavit and the species and facility details in the format the State Board expects, and collect your supporting papers.
File with the State Animal Welfare Board
We submit the application with the ₹5,000 fee, one application for each premises, and track the Board for queries or requests for more papers.
Support the inspection and collect the certificate
An authorised veterinarian visits the shop and reports to the Board. If the Board is satisfied, it issues the certificate. We walk you through what the vet will look at, so the visit is calm.
Timelines
Validity
The certificate is valid for five years under the 2018 Rules. Older certificates under the 2010 Rules ran for a shorter period, so check the date printed on yours.
Renewal
Apply for renewal at least 30 days before the certificate expires. The renewal fee is the same ₹5,000.
Processing
There is no fixed national timeline. Most of the wait is the State Board scheduling the veterinary inspection. Plan for weeks, not days, and do not sign a long lease on the strength of a promised date.
What happens if you run a shop without registration
Sealing of the shop
An unregistered pet shop can be sealed under the Rules. Sales stop that day. The rent does not.
Confiscation of animals
Animals found in substandard conditions can be taken to a recognised animal welfare organisation. The shop owner pays for their care and treatment.
Cancellation and action under the Act
A registered shop that breaks the Rules can get a show-cause notice and lose its registration. Cruelty to animals is also an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Rules you must follow after registration
The certificate is not the end of the work. Once the shop is open, these conditions apply every day.
| Area | What the Rules expect |
|---|---|
| Health | Only healthy animals, with a veterinarian’s health certificate for each animal on sale and regular fitness checks. |
| Housing | No wire mesh flooring in enclosures; clean, ventilated cages with space as prescribed for each species. |
| Records | Registers of suppliers and breeders, customers, deaths and health, kept up to date and open to inspectors. |
| Display | The certificate of registration shown prominently in the shop. |
| Sales | No animals sold for food; sale to minors is barred; protected wildlife species cannot be sold at all. |
Frequently asked questions
Is a pet shop licence compulsory in India?
Yes. Rule 3 of the Pet Shop Rules, 2018 says no person may run a pet shop or trade in pet animals without a certificate of registration from the State Animal Welfare Board. Shops that were already running had to apply within a fixed window after the Rules began. If you are still unregistered, apply now. Regularising early is simpler than answering a sealing notice.
What is the fee for a pet shop licence?
The government fee is ₹5,000, non-refundable, filed with Form-I. The same ₹5,000 applies when you renew. If you run two shops at different addresses, each premises needs its own application and its own fee. Our professional fee is separate and quoted before you commit.
How long is the certificate valid?
Five years under the 2018 Rules. Apply for renewal at least 30 days before the date of expiry, with the ₹5,000 renewal fee. Certificates issued under the older 2010 Rules had a shorter life, so check the date on yours. We keep a renewal reminder for every client so the certificate never lapses.
Who issues the certificate?
The State Animal Welfare Board of the state where your shop is located. It is not a municipal or police licence. A veterinarian inspects your premises and reports to the Board, which then issues a non-transferable certificate. We prepare the file and keep in touch with the Board until it is issued.
Do I need a separate licence for each shop?
Yes. The application is premises-specific, so each shop address gets its own Form-I, fee, inspection and certificate. A move to a new address also needs fresh registration for that place. Tell us before you sign a lease and we will check the space against the Rules first.
Can I sell dogs bred at home?
Registering a shop and breeding dogs are different things. Dog breeders are covered by separate rules, and the Pet Shop Rules govern the shop that sells. Tell us whether you breed, buy from breeders or both, and we will confirm which registrations you need and what records you must keep.
Do online pet sellers need registration?
Yes. The definition of a pet shop in the 2018 Rules covers online platforms that trade in pet animals. If you take orders for live animals online, treat yourself as a pet shop and register accordingly. A clean registration also helps with marketplace and payment-gateway checks.
What other licences does a pet shop need?
Besides this certificate, most shops need a shop and establishment registration or local trade licence, and GST registration if turnover crosses the limit or you sell across states. Which ones apply depends on your city and turnover. We list them at the start and file them together.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fee: ₹5,000 for registration under Rule 4 and ₹5,000 again on renewal, per premises. Veterinary, stamp-paper and notary costs are extra and vary by location.
Ready to begin?
Tell us where your shop will be and which animals you plan to sell. We will check the premises, prepare Form-I and take the registration forward.