Notification of a catering business

If you want to operate a catering business, you must notify the responsible office of this at least four weeks before the start of operation in accordance with § 2 (1) SächsGastG. The notification must indicate whether you wish to offer alcoholic beverages, prepared meals or both.

If you wish to run a catering business only temporarily for a special occasion, you must notify the competent body in good time, but at least two weeks before the business starts, stating your name, first name, address and the place and time when it will start. You must also indicate the special occasion.

Associations and societies which do not operate a catering trade on a commercial basis must informally notify the dispensing of alcoholic beverages, stating the address and name of the association or society.

You run a catering business if you are commercially

• providing drinks for consumption on the spot and/or
• providing prepared food for consumption on the spot, and
• the establishment is accessible to all or certain categories of persons.
• The serving of home-produced wine or cider for a maximum period of 4 months per year must also be notified to the competent body as operating a so-called Straußwirtschaft (temporary catering business).

If you, as a trader, temporarily provide services in Germany on a self-employed basis from a branch in another EU Member State or another EEA Contracting State, you do not need a notification, permit, authorisation or similar for this.

Saxon Restaurant Act (SächsGastG) of 29/06/2011 (15/07/2011)