Zoo Facility (Public Display of Animals)

A zoological garden, zoo, or similar facility must be approved by the County Administrative Board (länsstyrelsen) before it may be used for public display of animals. Approval is required under the Animal Welfare Ordinance (Djurskyddsförordning 2019:66) for new establishments, relocation of animals, and for new construction, extensions, or modifications of the facility.

To publicly display wild animals, a permit is also required under the Species Protection Ordinance (Artskyddsförordning 2007:845). The County Administrative Board is both the licensing authority and supervisory authority.

Requirements

  • Facility approval: The County Administrative Board must approve zoological gardens, zoos, or similar facilities before they may be used for public display of animals.
  • Permit for wild animals: Public display of wild animals requires a separate permit under the Species Protection Ordinance (2007:845).
  • Animal husbandry: Operations must meet requirements under the Swedish Board of Agriculture's regulations on animal husbandry in zoos (SJVFS 2019:29).

Permit Procedure

  • Application: Applications are submitted via the County Administrative Board's e-service.
  • Approval for changes: Approval is also required when relocating animals and for new construction, extensions, or modifications to the facility.
  • Supervision: The County Administrative Board supervises the operation.