Smooth snakes and sand lizards: apply for a mitigation licence (A46)
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-31)

Apply for a licence to carry out work that may affect smooth snakes or sand lizards and find out how to report your actions.

You must apply for a mitigation licence if your work will have impacts on smooth snakes or sand lizards that would otherwise be illegal. This includes:
- capturing, killing, disturbing or injuring them - on purpose or by not taking enough care
- damaging or destroying their breeding or resting places - even accidentally
- obstructing access to their resting or sheltering places - on purpose or by not taking enough care
Find out how smooth snakes and sand lizards are protected.

Apply for an A46 licence

To apply you must:
- complete application form A46
- include a method statement (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/method-statement-to-support-a-mitigation-licence-application) to show what you’ll do to reduce the impacts of the proposed work on smooth snakes and sand lizards
- include a work schedule (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reasoned-statement-to-support-a-mitigation-licence-application) to show when you’ll do the activities and in what order
- include a reasoned statement (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reasoned-statement-to-support-a-mitigation-licence-application) to show that the activity fits the criteria and that there is no satisfactory alternative
- include references (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reference-to-support-a-protected-species-licence) to show that the ecological consultant has the necessary experience to apply for a mitigation licence - references are not needed if they’ve held a mitigation licence for the same species in the last 3 years
If the application is for a phased or multi-plot development, you will need to provide:
- a master plan
- a habitat management and maintenance plan
You may need to pay for this licence.

Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 working days of receiving your application.

When you need to pay

You may need to pay for an A46 licence. Natural England will assess your A46 form and tell you:
- if you need to pay
- how much you’ll pay
Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-paying-for-a-wildlife-licence).

When you do not need to pay

You may not need to pay for a licence if it’s:
- to preserve public health and safety
- to prevent the spread of disease
- to prevent serious damage to property
- to conserve a historic property
- householder home improvements
How to pay

Natural England will send you an invoice when it approves your application.

You can pay by:
- electronic bank transfer
- debit or credit card by telephone - except American Express
- cheque
Your invoice will give payment method details.

VAT does not apply to charges for wildlife licences.

You must include your invoice number with your payment.

Natural England accepts purchase orders. If you want Natural England to add a purchase number to your invoice, you must include it in the invoice details in your A46 form.

Report your actions

You must report any actions you took using this licence on the European protected species return form (LR13) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-your-actions-under-a-european-protected-species-licence).

You must report within 2 weeks of your licence expiring, even if you’ve taken no action. Natural England may also ask you to submit interim reports.

Send your completed form by post or email to Natural England using the details on the form.