Beavers: licence to modify or remove dams and damaged burrows (CL52)
Register for a licence to modify or remove Eurasian beaver dams or damaged burrows outside their breeding season.
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PublishedPublished:- 2 September 2022
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updatedupdated: -
1
JanuarySeptember20242026 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
Apply for registration under beaver licence CL52
MS Word Document, 65 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Activity record for beaver licence CL52
MS Word Document, 41.4 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Annual report for beaver licence CL52
MS Word Document, 36.7 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
This licence is for an authorised person who manages land or waterbodies to modify or remove dams or damaged burrows between 1 September and 28 February when beavers are not breeding.
You need to register and be approved as an authorised person to use this licence.
Find out how to manage beavers without a licence and when you need a licence.
How to register
Register by completing the form on this page.
You cannot act under this licence until you have written confirmation from Natural England that you are an authorised person.
How to record activity
Use an activity record form to record each licensed activity you carry out under beaver licence CL52.
Submit a completed annual report form with all your activity records by 31 March each year.
Get help
If you have any questions about beaver licensing, contact Natural England.
Updates to this page
Published 2 September 2022
Last updated 1 JanuarySeptember 2024
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Update history
2026-09-01 10:00
Updated the attachment ‘Licence to modify or remove beaver dams and damaged burrows (CL52)’. Natural England will contact you with the outcomes of your registration within 30 working days for normal registrations, rather than 15 working days. Under licence condition 1, added that the registered person must maintain their expertise at an appropriate level to act under this licence, including attending a refresher training course every 3 years since attending the Natural England accredited CL52 training course. Under condition 2, added additional advice to clarify when the licence can and cannot be used for preserving public health and safety. Under condition 5, added additional advice about: fish migration and spawning grounds, how to remove a beaver dam, and waste materials and non-native invasive species handling.
2024-01-01 00:01
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
2023-08-11 13:22
Licence and forms amended to include repairing or removing a damaged beaver burrow as an action under this licence. Additionally, if you want to register as an authorised person under CL52, you must attend a Natural England accredited training course. Experience with dams and damaged burrows is no longer part of the registration process.
Apply for registration under beaver licence CL52
MS Word Document, 65 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Activity record for beaver licence CL52
MS Word Document, 41.4 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Annual report for beaver licence CL52
MS Word Document, 36.7 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
This licence is for an authorised person who manages land or waterbodies to modify or remove dams or damaged burrows between 1 September and 28 February when beavers are not breeding.
You need to register and be approved as an authorised person to use this licence.
Find out how to manage beavers without a licence and when you need a licence.
How to register
Register by completing the form on this page.
You cannot act under this licence until you have written confirmation from Natural England that you are an authorised person.
How to record activity
Use an activity record form to record each licensed activity you carry out under beaver licence CL52.
Submit a completed annual report form with all your activity records by 31 March each year.
Get help
If you have any questions about beaver licensing, contact Natural England.
Updates to this page
Published 2 September 2022
Last updated 1 JanuarySeptember 2024
+ show2026
—
Show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-09-01 10:00
Updated the attachment ‘Licence to modify or remove beaver dams and damaged burrows (CL52)’. Natural England will contact you with the outcomes of your registration within 30 working days for normal registrations, rather than 15 working days. Under licence condition 1, added that the registered person must maintain their expertise at an appropriate level to act under this licence, including attending a refresher training course every 3 years since attending the Natural England accredited CL52 training course. Under condition 2, added additional advice to clarify when the licence can and cannot be used for preserving public health and safety. Under condition 5, added additional advice about: fish migration and spawning grounds, how to remove a beaver dam, and waste materials and non-native invasive species handling.
2024-01-01 00:01
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
2023-08-11 13:22
Licence and forms amended to include repairing or removing a damaged beaver burrow as an action under this licence. Additionally, if you want to register as an authorised person under CL52, you must attend a Natural England accredited training course. Experience with dams and damaged burrows is no longer part of the registration process.
Details
This licence is for an authorised person who manages land or waterbodies to modify or remove dams or damaged burrows between 1 September and 28 February when beavers are not breeding.
You need to register and be approved as an authorised person to use this licence.
Find out how to manage beavers without a licence and when you need a licence.
How to register
Register by completing the form on this page.
You cannot act under this licence until you have written confirmation from Natural England that you are an authorised person.
How to record activity
Use an activity record form to record each licensed activity you carry out under beaver licence CL52.
Submit a completed annual report form with all your activity records by 31 March each year.
Get help
If you have any questions about beaver licensing, contact Natural England.
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-09-01 10:00
Updated the attachment ‘Licence to modify or remove beaver dams and damaged burrows (CL52)’. Natural England will contact you with the outcomes of your registration within 30 working days for normal registrations, rather than 15 working days. Under licence condition 1, added that the registered person must maintain their expertise at an appropriate level to act under this licence, including attending a refresher training course every 3 years since attending the Natural England accredited CL52 training course. Under condition 2, added additional advice to clarify when the licence can and cannot be used for preserving public health and safety. Under condition 5, added additional advice about: fish migration and spawning grounds, how to remove a beaver dam, and waste materials and non-native invasive species handling.
2024-01-01 00:01
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
2023-08-11 13:22
Licence and forms amended to include repairing or removing a damaged beaver burrow as an action under this licence. Additionally, if you want to register as an authorised person under CL52, you must attend a Natural England accredited training course. Experience with dams and damaged burrows is no longer part of the registration process.