Surrey park to trial commercial dog walking licensing scheme

A new commercial dog walking licensing scheme is to be piloted in Nonsuch Park, Surrey, starting in April 2025.

The Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee voted to launch a 12-month pilot of the scheme after a consultation with the public and dog walkers.

An annual licence will cost £200 and limits the number of dogs that can be walked at one time to a maximum of six. Dog walkers will be required to provide proof of public liability insurance, risk assessments, and sign an agreement that sets out how commercial dog walking can be undertaken.

The committee also set out plans to develop a Dog Walking Code of Conduct in collaboration with the dog walking community and enforcement where there is evidence of non-compliance.

Councillor Louise Phelan, from Sutton Council and current Chair of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee, said: “We know that the professional dog walkers who visit Nonsuch Park take the responsibility of walking multiple dogs in a public area extremely seriously and support the introduction of a licensing scheme that helps protect the reputation and standards of their profession.

“We hope the subsequent licensing scheme will go some way to create an open space which everyone can enjoy.”