Bird Control Legal Requirements for UK Businesses — What You Need to Know

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary legislation protecting wild birds in England, Scotland, and Wales. Under this Act:

• All wild birds are protected. It is an offence to intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird.
• All nests in use are protected. It is an offence to intentionally take, damage, or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.
• All eggs are protected. It is an offence to intentionally take or destroy the eggs of any wild bird.

General Licences

General licences are issued by Natural England and allow certain actions without applying for an individual licence. They are standing authorisations — you do not need to apply, but you must meet the conditions.

GL40 — Killing or Taking Certain Wild Birds

GL40 permits the killing or taking of certain listed species to:

• Prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, foodstuffs, fisheries, or inland waters
• Preserve public health or public safety
• Prevent the spread of disease

Species covered include feral pigeons, carrion crows, jackdaws, magpies, and others.

GL42 — Conservation of Wild Birds

GL42 permits the killing or taking of certain species for the purpose of conserving wild birds — specifically where species like magpies and crows are predating on species of conservation concern.

General Licence Conditions

• Non-lethal methods must have been considered first
• The licence can only be relied upon for the specific purposes stated
• Actions must be proportionate to the problem
• The licence user must be an “authorised person” as defined in the Act

Individual Licences — Required for Gulls

If your business has a herring gull or lesser black-backed gull problem that requires nest removal, egg management, or lethal control, you need an individual licence from Natural England.

• Require a formal application
• Require evidence that non-lethal methods have been tried or considered
• Require evidence of the specific problem (public health, safety, or damage)
• Are assessed on a case-by-case basis
• Can be refused

Non-Lethal Methods — No Licence Required

Physical proofing methods that exclude birds from areas without harming them do not require any licence:

• Bird netting — complete exclusion of birds from defined areas
• Bird spikes and wire systems — preventing birds from landing on surfaces
• Solar panel mesh guards — blocking access to nesting sites under panels
• Falconry dispersal — trained hawks dispersing pest birds through natural predatory presence
• Electric track systems — low-voltage deterrents for ledges and facades

These methods are legal, humane, and effective. For most businesses, physical proofing provides a permanent solution without the legal complexity of licensed control.

BRC, SALSA, and Food Industry Compliance

If your business operates under BRC Global Standard, SALSA, or BRCGS accreditation, you have additional bird control obligations:

BRC Global Standard — Clause 4.14.7

• Documented pest management programme required, including bird control
• Active bird infestation in production or storage areas = major non-conformance
• Pest contractor should hold NPTA membership
• Species-specific risk assessments required
• Monitoring, trend analysis, and corrective action documentation expected

Learn more about bird control for food manufacturing

What Should Your Business Do?

1. Do not take action without understanding the legal position. Contact a specialist bird control company for advice.
2. Install physical proofing to prevent birds from accessing your building. This does not require a licence and provides a permanent solution.
3. Document everything. If you are in a regulated industry, ensure your bird management programme is documented, monitored, and audit-ready.
4. Use a RSPH Level 2 & 3 qualified contractor. This demonstrates due diligence and satisfies auditor requirements.
5. Handle gull problems carefully. Gull control requires specialist knowledge. Do not rely on general pest controllers for gull management.