People in Stone who want to keep a primate as a pet now need a council licence under new national animal welfare rules.
The change applies across Stafford Borough, and also affects anyone already keeping a primate in a domestic setting, although the borough council says it is not currently aware of any such cases locally.
New rules now apply across Stafford Borough
The new regulations came into force this month and mean anyone wanting to keep a primate as a pet must be licensed by their local authority.
That includes animals such as marmosets, lemurs, squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys and capuchins.
Stafford Borough is already home to primates at Trentham Monkey Forest and Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre. But councillors were told this week that the council does not currently know of any primates being kept privately in domestic settings within the borough.
Even so, the new rules still matter for Stone and surrounding villages, particularly for anyone considering keeping an unusual pet, or anyone aware of primates being kept at home.
Council set to approve £300 licence fee
Cabinet members were told on Thursday 9 April 2026 that new primate licence applications, and future renewals, will cost £300 in Stafford Borough.
The fee is in line with charges already set for other animal activity licences.
A meeting of the full council on Tuesday 14 April 2026 is due to be asked to approve the fee and formally hand authority to the council’s Head of Regulatory Services to administer and enforce the new rules.
Councillor Ian Fordham, cabinet member for environment, told Thursday’s meeting,
“From this month new animal welfare regulations make it unlawful to keep primates as domestic pets without a local authority licence. The aim of this is to ensure higher standards of animal welfare and protect the public.
“Licensed owners and keepers must henceforth meet strict zoo-level standards. Licences will be for a period of three years, or less if requested by the applicant.
“The council is required to make reasonable efforts to identify owners and ensure licensing monitoring and compliance. Regulations allow for the charging of fees and that’s done on a cost recovery basis, fees will be reviewed regularly based on officers’ time required.
“I should state that the borough has no known keepers of any primates in a domestic situation. We are however creating general awareness of the new regulations via a webpage and press releases.”
What the licence involves
Before a licence can be granted, the premises where the primate would be kept must be inspected by a vet and a qualified officer.
Any licence issued would last for three years, unless a shorter period is requested by the applicant.
The RSPCA estimates that around 5,000 primates, including monkeys and lemurs, are being kept in domestic settings across the UK. Keeping one without a licence is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Stafford Borough Council has also written to vets across the area, asking them to make customers aware of the new requirement.
Anyone with concerns about primates being kept in the borough can email EHanimalwelfare@staffordbc.gov.uk.
It is a niche change, and probably not one that will affect many households in Stone directly. But it is now part of the rules for anyone thinking of keeping a primate at home.
