Show catering trade

In general, the procedure is as follows:

• Submit your application to the competent authority.
• Enclose all necessary documents with this application.
• You will receive a receipt after submitting the notification. On request, you can receive an official certificate confirming the result of the background check.

If you

• If you operate a restaurant that serves alcohol, you must submit a business licence and certain documents before starting operations. This is to ensure that the pub is operated by a reliable trader.
• If you wish to operate a restaurant without serving alcohol, you must submit a business licence at the same time as starting the business.
• Alcoholic beverages

• as a gratuitous ancillary service in small quantities or
• to house guests in connection with an accommodation establishment

you do not have to submit a business licence in advance. In this case - as with a pub that does not serve alcohol - it is sufficient to submit a business licence at the time of the start of operations.

none

To prove your personal reliability, you must submit the following documents to the competent authority if the restaurant is to serve alcohol:

• Identity card or passport (with current registration certificate from the municipality of residence)
• Business registration
• Proof of the requested certificate of good conduct for submission to the authorities from the registration office of the main place of residence
• Proof of the requested information from the central trade register for submission to the authorities from the registration office of the main place of residence
• Extract from the debtor register at the enforcement court
• Certificate in tax matters from the responsible tax office

You must apply for the information from the municipality of residence for submission to an authority; this information will be sent directly to the authority. You must therefore state the exact address of the competent authority and the purpose of use in your application.

You can also apply for information using the online procedure provided by the Federal Office of Justice/Citizens' Services.

The information must not be older than 3 months.

Please note that the responsible office may require additional documents in individual cases. Find out in good time before submitting your application.

• § Section 2 of the Hessian Catering Act (HGastG)
• § Section 3 of the Hessian Catering Act (HGastG)
• § Section 14 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)
• § Section 15 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)

• Contradiction
• Administrative court action

• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: no

The obligation to notify does not release you from complying with other regulations under commercial law, such as closing times, food regulations, building law (for example with regard to the question of toilets).

There is no temporary catering licence in Hesse. If you wish to take over an existing pub or restaurant unchanged or if you wish to continue to operate the pub or restaurant unchanged as a deputy, you must notify the competent authority.

• Catering display
• The operation of a restaurant serving alcohol is subject to notification
• If the restaurant is taken over by another person, the catering business must be notified
• The obligation to notify the catering trade six weeks before the start of operations generally only applies if alcoholic beverages are offered for consumption on the premises. If only non-alcoholic drinks and prepared food are served, the catering business must be notified at the same time as the start of operations.
• Responsible: Catering authority of the municipality or city