{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981.json",
  "id": "ukpga/1981/37",
  "title": "Zoo Licensing Act 1981",
  "long_title": "An Act to regulate by licence the conduct of zoos.",
  "citation": "1981 c. 37",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "1981",
  "number": "37",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1981-07-27",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2022-06-08",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "unapplied_effects": 3,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/licences",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Licences",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Licensing of zoos by local authorities.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-1",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1A",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1A",
      "heading": "Conservation measures for zoos",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-1A",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "Application for licence.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-2",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
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      "heading": "Consideration of application.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-3",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
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      "heading": "Grant or refusal of licence.",
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      "status": null,
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    },
    {
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      "heading": "Period and conditions of licence.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-5",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
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      "heading": "Renewal of licence.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-6",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
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      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Transfer, transmission and surrender of licence.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-7",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/licences"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/secretary-of-states-functions",
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      "heading": "Secretary of State’s functions",
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      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
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      "heading": "Secretary of State’s list.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-8",
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      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/secretary-of-states-functions"
    },
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      "path": "section/9",
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      "heading": "Secretary of State’s standards.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-9",
      "extent": null,
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    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/inspections",
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      "heading": "Inspections",
      "url": null,
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      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9A",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9A",
      "heading": "Procedure relating to inspections before the grant, refusal, renewal or significant alteration of licences",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-9A",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/inspections"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
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      "heading": "Periodical inspections.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-10",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/inspections"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11",
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      "heading": "Special inspections.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-11",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/inspections"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11A",
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      "number": "11A",
      "heading": "Special inspections of closed zoos",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-11A",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/inspections"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/12",
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      "heading": "Informal inspections.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-12",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/inspections"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/special-cases",
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      "number": null,
      "heading": "Special cases",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/13",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "13",
      "heading": "Local authority zoos.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-13",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/special-cases"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/14",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": "Dispensation for particular zoos.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-14",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/special-cases"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/fees-etc",
      "kind": "crossheading",
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      "heading": "Fees etc.",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/15",
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      "number": "15",
      "heading": "Fees and other charges.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-15",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/fees-etc"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/enforcement",
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      "heading": "Enforcement",
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      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
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    },
    {
      "path": "section/16",
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      "number": "16",
      "heading": "Power to alter licences.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/enforcement"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16A",
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      "number": "16A",
      "heading": "Enforcement of licence conditions",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16A",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/enforcement"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16B",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16B",
      "heading": "Zoo closure direction",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16B",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/enforcement"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16C",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16C",
      "heading": "Zoo closure direction for zoos without licences",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16C",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/enforcement"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16D",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16D",
      "heading": "Application of section 16E",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16D",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/enforcement"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16E",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "16E",
      "heading": "Welfare of animals following closure of zoo",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16E",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/enforcement"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/16F",
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      "heading": "Power of authority to dispose of animals",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-16F",
      "extent": "E+W",
      "status": null,
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    },
    {
      "path": "section/16G",
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      "status": null,
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    {
      "path": "section/17",
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      "status": null,
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    {
      "path": "section/18",
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      "heading": "Appeals.",
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      "status": null,
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    {
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    },
    {
      "path": "section/19A",
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      "path": "section/19B",
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    {
      "path": "section/20",
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      "heading": "Transitory provision for existing zoos.",
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      "heading": "Application of Act: England and Wales",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-22A",
      "extent": "E",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplemental"
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    {
      "path": "section/23",
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      "number": "23",
      "heading": "Short title, commencement and extent.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/zoo-licensing-act-1981/section-23",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
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    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
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      "type": "words substituted",
      "affected_provisions": "s. 3(2)(e)(ii)",
      "affecting": "asc/2026/7",
      "affecting_title": "Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026",
      "affecting_provisions": "Sch. 2 para. 156"
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      "affecting_title": "Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026",
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      "affecting_title": "Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026",
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  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/37",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:14:02.978211+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}