Professional dog walkers must apply for a licence as part of our drive to improve safety and reduce fouling in Hammersmith & Fulham’s parks.
The licence requirement was introduced in October 2020. It means that any professional dog walkers working in H&F’s parks and open spaces are required to pay an annual fee. Similar schemes are in place in neighbouring boroughs.
The licence means all professional dog walkers working in the borough will be registered; improving safety for all park visitors and reducing instances of dog fouling.
What is a professional dog walker?
A licence is required for dog walkers who take payment for the care, kennelling, transport or exercise of a dog or dogs and take that dog or dogs to a park or open space in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham for exercise.
How does the licence work?
The licence will have two different costs depending on whether the dog walking business is based in or outside the borough and is similar to what is charged in neighbouring boroughs and the Royal Parks.
The licence applies to dog walkers, for up to four dogs per walk.
The cost for a professional dog walker, registered as a business in Hammersmith & Fulham, is £210 per year.
Non-borough businesses will be charged £410 per year.
For a resident dog walking business, this equates to about 58p per day. Money from the licensing scheme will be put towards park maintenance and improvements.
The licence and permit runs from 1 April to 31 March inclusive.
A replacement licence costs £50.
Which parks does the licence apply to?
The licence will be required to operate in the following parks and green spaces:
- Bayonne Road open space
- Bentworth Road open space
- Berestede open space
- Bishops Park
- Brook Green
- Cathnor Park
- Dalling Road open space
- Edith Road open space
- Eelbrook Common
- Furnivall Gardens
- Godolphin Road open space
- Great West Road
- Gwendwr Gardens
- Gwendwr Gardens open space
- Hammersmith Park
- Hurlingham Park
- Lillie Road rec
- Little Brook Green
- Marcus Garvey Park
- Norland North open space
- Normand Park
- North Pole open space
- North Verbena Gardens
- Oil Mill Lane
- Purcell Crescent open space
- Ravenscourt Park
- Richmond Way open space
- South Park
- Starch Green open space
- St Paul’s Gardens
- St Paul's open space
- St Peter's Square
- Upper Mall
- Wendell Park
- Westcroft Square open space
- William Parnell
- Wormwood Scrubs
- Wormholt Park.
How to apply for a licence
Please complete our online form.
Apply for a dog walking licence
For further information email: sportsbookings@lbhf.gov.uk