Collection

Reptile licences

Licences for activities affecting reptiles.

• From: Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 13 October 2014
• Last updated: 11 October 2022 — See all updates

Find out how reptiles are protected.

Mitigation licence for smooth snakes and sand lizards

• Smooth snakes and sand lizards: apply for a mitigation licence (A46)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Possess or sell smooth snakes and sand lizards

• European protected species: apply for a licence to possess them (A37 and LR37)
  • 8 March 2022
  • Form
• Licence to possess plants and animals for scientific purposes (CL01)
  • 1 January 2025
  • Statutory guidance
• Licence to sell animal specimens taken before October 1981 (CL07)
  • 1 January 2025
  • Statutory guidance
• Licence to sell protected plants and animals (A38 and LR38)
  • 1 March 2022
  • Form
• Protected animals: licence for taxidermists to own dead animals (GL02)
  • 1 January 2025
  • Statutory guidance
• Wild animals: licence for individuals to possess specimens (CL06)
  • 1 January 2025
  • Statutory guidance
• Wild birds and animals: licence to possess samples (GL10)
  • 1 January 2025
  • Statutory guidance

Survey or research smooth snakes and sand lizards

• Protected species licence for science, education or conservation (A29)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Other licences

• Non-native (alien) species: apply for a licence to release them (A03 and LR03)
  • 22 July 2025
  • Form
• Protected species: apply for a mitigation licence (A05 and A05a)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Published 13 October 2014

Last updated 11 October 2022 + show all updates

1. 11 October 2022

   Added the page 'Protected species: apply for a mitigation licence (A05 and A05a)' to the list of Other licences.

2. 13 October 2014

   First published.