Restaurant license

Source: BUS Rheinland-Pfalz

If you want to operate a restaurant business that serves alcohol, you generally need a restaurant license.

Irrespective of the restaurant permit discussed here and depending on your offer, you may have to fulfill further registration and licensing obligations, for example in accordance with the Trade Regulation Act and the Crafts Code.

You operate a catering business if you commercially

in a standing business, i.e. in a permanent establishment, serve drinks (pub business) or prepared food (restaurant business) for consumption on the spot or
serve drinks or prepared food for consumption on the premises in a traveling trade (from a fixed business premises only for the duration of an event).

The prerequisite in any case is that the establishment is accessible to everyone.

You do not require a restaurant license if you only serve

non-alcoholic drinks,
free samples,
prepared food or
in conjunction with an accommodation establishment, drinks and prepared food to house guests.

to house guests.

Special regulations apply to Straußwirtschaften (§ 14 of the Restaurant Act [GastG]).

The permit is issued for a specific type of business (e.g. pub, discotheque, snack bar) and only applies to the rooms used for the business. A building permit may also be required.

Permission is also required for any expansion of the restaurant business and any changes to the premises.

In the case of civil law partnerships and commercial partnerships, a separate permit is required for each partner. In the case of legal entities and associations without legal capacity, however, only a single restaurant permit is required.

If you wish to take over an existing restaurant business requiring a permit from another person, you can be granted a temporary permit on revocation (usually for 3 months) until the final restaurant permit is issued (§11 GastG). With this permit, the business can also be taken over at short notice.

A permit to act as a deputy (§ 9 GastG) should be applied for if you wish to have the restaurant run by a deputy who will also be responsible to authorities and institutions. The deputy must meet the same criteria regarding personal reliability and suitability as you yourself.

The responsible authorities in Rhineland-Palatinate are: the municipal administrations, association municipal administrations and city administrations.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate.The Single Point of Contact is a public office through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for taking up and exercising your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

Single point of contact for administrative matters

Personal reliability

Your reliability is checked on the basis of your certificate of good conduct and extract from the central trade register.
In the case of legal entities, the managing director must provide proof of reliability.

Suitability of the premises and the local location

The premises intended for the restaurant business must be suitable for the type and scope of the intended use and their location must not be contrary to the public interest, for example with regard to noise protection

You will need the following documents to apply for a restaurant permit:

Application for a restaurant license

Information from the Federal Central Register (certificate of good conduct) for authorities. The certificate of good conduct must not be older than three months when applying for the restaurant license.
Information from the central trade register for natural persons for submission to an authority. The extract from the central trade register must not be older than three months when applying for the restaurant license.
Information from the Central Trade Register for legal entities for submission to an authority. You must apply for the extract from the central trade register at the public order office responsible for the place of business.
Extract from the commercial register or articles of association, if applicable
IHK certificate (§ 4 of the German Restaurant Act [GastG]). This proof is a certificate from a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) confirming participation in the catering training course or a comparable qualification confirmed by the IHK.
Identity card or other official identification document with photograph
Purchase, rental or lease agreement as proof that you have actual power of disposal over the business premises
Floor plan of the rooms intended for the restaurant business and for the employees' stay)

For online application:

Apply for a restaurant license

The nearest responsible office to you:

Öffentliche Sicherheit und Ordnung

The department is part of the Registry, Legal and Public Order Office and is responsible for a wide range of tasks in the areas of commercial law and special use, food control and consumer protection, general public order administration (including weapons, hunting and explosives law, events, prostitution protection), lost and found office and general hazard prevention for public safety and order.

Address

Große Bleiche 46/Löwenhofstraße 1
55116 Mainz
Remark:
Townhouse Große Bleiche

Building access

Remark:
Wheelchair-accessible WC in the foyer.

Postal address

Postal address 3820
55028 Mainz

Building access

Remark:
Wheelchair-accessible WC in the foyer.

Contact

Telephone

06131 122407

Email

Get in touch

Opening hours

The Central Enforcement and Investigation Service is staffed around the clock on +49 6131 12-49333.

You can only visit the Weapons, Hunting and Explosives Law Department and the Fishing Licenses Department by making an appointment in advance.

When making an appointment for weapons, hunting and explosives law, please also note the letter allocation based on the first letter of your surname
:

Mr. Weishahn, letters A to H, Tel. +49 6131 12-2409
Mr. Müller, letters I to St, Tel. +49 6131 12-2414
Mr. Busch, letters Sch to Z, Tel. +49 6131 12-2399

Lost and found office:

Monday and Tuesday:
9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday:
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Thursday:
9 am to 12 noon and 1.30 pm to 4 pm

Friday:
9 am to 12 noon

Contact person

Show all information

Gaststätten und Gewerbeangelegenheiten

Address

Kaiserstraße 3-5
55116 Mainz
Remark:
Kaiserstraße Town Hall, Kreyßig Wing

Building access

Remark:
Wheelchair-accessible WC available (5th floor Kreyßig wing, first floor Lauteren wing).

Postal address

Postal address 3620
55026 Mainz

Building access

Remark:
Wheelchair-accessible WC available (5th floor Kreyßig wing, first floor Lauteren wing).

Contact

Telephone

06131 122438

Fax

06131 123010

Restaurant license

Process flow

Who should I contact?

Competent authority

Requirements

Which documents are required?

Legal basis

What else should I know?

Professionally released on

For online application:

The nearest responsible office to you:

Öffentliche Sicherheit und Ordnung

Öffentliche Sicherheit und Ordnung

Address

Building access

Postal address

Building access

Contact

Telephone

Email

Opening hours

Contact person

Herr Pascal Mohr

Gaststätten und Gewerbeangelegenheiten