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Statutory guidance

Water voles: licence to displace them (CL31)

Register for a licence to displace water voles to allow work that could disturb them or damage their burrows and report your actions.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
1 January 2016
Last updated:
1 January 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030. Additionally, the process for submitting a survey licence return has changed and a new online form has been added to the page.

  2. Added a link to apply for a strategic licence for water voles.

  3. Updated licence charges.

  4. Changed the scientific name of water voles to Arvicola terrestris for the purpose of this licence. We have added a new information and advice note (note f).

  5. Added a link to the updated 'Register for a licence to displace water voles' form.

  6. We are currently making improvements to our licensing forms. The register for a licence form on this page will change to a new format in early March 2025. Once this happens, the current version of the form will no longer be available.

  7. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer, including the sections on 'Registering to use this licence' and 'Recording and reporting requirements'. Amended licence conditions (conditions 10, 12, 14 and 22) and information and advice notes (note f and note g). Added additional licence conditions (conditions 5, 9, 11, and 24); these have been renumbered following the addition of the new conditions. Licence note 'c' has become note 'a'.

  8. There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

  9. Licence updated to cover new purposes and to permit autumn displacement of water voles. Annual updates valid from 1 January 2023.

  10. Added an online form titled 'Report and monitor your actions and renew your CL31 water vole class licence'. This replaces reporting form LR31 and monitoring form MON-CL31.

  11. Removed charge form as the way to renew a licence to displace water voles for development will change before the next renewal date.

  12. Updated guidance on how to register for a licence to displace water voles for development projects.

  13. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.

  14. Condition 12 added to class licence CL31.

  15. Annual licence update.

  16. From 7 December 2020 you will need to pay for a CL31 licence. Added charge form and updated CL31 licence application form.

  17. Accessible licence added - HTML.

  18. Replaced licence with amended version issued 21 February 2020.

  19. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  20. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019. Replaced registration and report forms with updated versions.

  21. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018. New monitoring form added.

  22. Annual licence update 2017.

  23. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to intentionally damage or destroy water vole burrows by displacement (CL31)

HTML

Details

You must have a licence to displace water voles.

This licence allows you, as the registered person, to intentionally displace water voles by damaging or destroying their burrows. This includes:

  • removing vegetation back to bare earth in spring and autumn
  • carrying out a destructive search of water vole burrows after an appropriate monitoring period, after removing vegetation

Intentionally disturbing water voles by displacement is a method of reducing harm to them where work is to take place. Read the licence document on this page for more details.

You can only use this licence for projects that:

  • preserve public health or safety
  • prevent serious damage
  • are for reasons of overriding public interest

If you cannot follow the terms and conditions of this licence, you should apply for an individual mitigation licence or a strategic licence.

Register to use this licence

You must register with Natural England before you can use this licence.

Register for a licence to displace water voles

You can only use this licence if you’re an:

  • ecological consultant registered to use it - the ‘registered person’
  • accredited agent of the registered person
  • assistant working under the direct supervision of the registered person or accredited agent

Pay for your licence

You need to pay for a CL31 licence.

New registrations cost £104.

It costs £35 a year to renew your licence registration.

Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence.

How to pay

You can pay using a bank card. Follow the GOV.UK Pay link on the application form.

Report actions taken under this licence

You must use the water vole displacement licence return form to report any actions taken under this licence.

You must submit your report by 31 January each year, even if you’ve taken no action.

You will be asked for:

  • your licence details
  • details of the type of searches and actions taken at each site, if applicable
  • digital photographs of the displacement sites, if available
  • habitats and vegetation at the site, and banks affected
  • presence of water voles, mink and other predators
  • digital photographs of the displacement sites, if available
  • details of any welfare concerns, such as water voles that were injured or killed
  • information about any accredited agents who worked under your licence

There is a monitoring element to the online form. This information allows Natural England to assess the effectiveness of displacement as a new licensed activity.

Submit a water vole displacement licence return

Using your licence for another year

By reporting your actions in the licence return, you can choose to continue to use the licence for the following reporting period. You will need to pay £35 to continue your registration for another year.

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