Feral pigeons, jackdaws, crows and Canada geese can all cause real nuisance on and around buildings, but wild birds are protected by law, and killing a bird or destroying a nest without permission can be an offence. In England, Natural England issues “general licences” that allow specified actions without a personal application. This article explains two of them, GL41 and GL42, using the 2026 licence texts on GOV.UK. It applies to England only.
What a general licence is
Both licences state that they authorise acts that would otherwise be offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and that failure to comply with their terms may mean the licence cannot be relied upon and an offence could be committed. Neither requires registration. Both were issued on 1 January 2026 and are valid for one year, from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026, and only in England, landward of the mean low water mark. Anyone whose situation is not covered must apply to Natural England for an individual licence.
Who can use them
Only an “authorised person” can rely on either licence. The licences define this by reference to section 27(1) of the 1981 Act and say it includes the owner or occupier of the land where the action is taken, or any person authorised by the owner or occupier. A pest controller acting on a property owner’s instruction can therefore be covered, but the terms still bind them. The licences say a person cannot use them if convicted of a wildlife offence on or after 1 January 2010, unless the conviction has been served and they are a rehabilitated person, or a court has discharged them, and they cannot be used if Natural England has withdrawn permission.
GL41: public health or public safety
GL41 permits action against certain species for preserving public health or public safety. Its table lists Canada goose and feral pigeon as covered for slips and falls, spread of disease to humans, and safety issues with nesting birds. Jackdaw and monk parakeet are listed only for safety issues with nesting birds. The licence allows killing or taking birds, taking, damaging or destroying nests, and taking or destroying eggs, by listed methods including pricking or oiling eggs, destroying eggs and nests, killing or taking by hand, targeted falconry, shooting, a permitted cage trap design, and hand-held nets on birds not in flight.
The conditions are significant for householders and companies:
- Alternatives first for jackdaws. Condition 1 requires reasonable endeavours to use alternative lawful methods before and during use, but the licence says this condition applies only to jackdaws, and that alternatives need not be used if impractical, ineffective or disproportionate.
- Humane killing. Any bird killed must be killed quickly and humanely, including compliance with condition 8 of the standard trapping conditions (GL33).
- Protected sites. Action on a Site of Special Scientific Interest requires appropriate permission from Natural England where consent is needed, and further conditions apply on or near listed special protection areas.
GL42: serious damage
GL42 is aimed at preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, fisheries or inland waters. Its permitted species include feral pigeon, wood pigeon, carrion crow, jackdaw, rook, magpie, Canada goose, Egyptian goose and two parakeet species, with a table showing which purpose applies to which species. For feral pigeons the table shows “yes” for foodstuffs for livestock and spread of disease, and for crops, fruit and vegetables. It does not cover damage to buildings as such, so a householder whose concern is fouling of a roof or a balcony should look at GL41 or at an individual licence rather than assume GL42 applies.
For the native species, carrion crows, jackdaws, magpies, rooks and wood pigeons, GL42 condition 1 requires reasonable endeavours to use alternative lawful methods before and during use, again unless that would be impractical, ineffective or disproportionate. The licence also allows for feral pigeons only certain night-time aids such as illuminating devices and sighting devices for shooting at night.
Records and good practice
Both licences recommend, but do not require, keeping records, and neither requires reporting. GL41’s advice suggests recording the action taken, the reasons no satisfactory alternative existed, the methods used, the species and numbers, and the date and place. Natural England recommends keeping such records for at least three years. This is a practical protection for a customer who has hired a contractor: a written record shows that conditions were considered.
For non-lethal steps, see the site’s guides to pigeons on buildings, nesting birds and wildlife law and gulls nesting on your roof.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for GL41 or GL42? No. The licences say registration is not needed, but users must comply with all terms and conditions.
Do these licences apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? No. Both are valid in England only.
The bottom line
In England, GL41 and GL42 let an authorised person, meaning the owner or occupier or someone they authorise, act against specified birds for stated public health, safety or serious-damage purposes without a personal application, but only within the species tables, methods and conditions, and only until 31 December 2026 for the current versions. Alternatives must be tried first for native species where the conditions say so. A property owner hiring a contractor should ask which licence is relied on and how the conditions are being met. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Natural England, GOV.UK, “GL41: general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to preserve public health or public safety”
- Natural England, GOV.UK, “GL42: general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to prevent serious damage”