Restaurant and Pub License

The Gaststättenerlaubnis (restaurant and pub license, also called Schanklizenz or Ausschankgenehmigung) may be required to operate a restaurant or pub serving alcohol, depending on the German state. Some states require only a notification (Gaststättenanzeige), others require the full license. You apply at your local Ordnungsamt or Gewerbeamt.

Get your Gaststättenerlaubnis, step by step

From IHK training certificate to floor plan review at the Ordnungsamt, this guide covers all 8 steps and every document your application needs.

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Regulations by State

Notification only (Gaststättenanzeige instead of full license): Brandenburg, Thüringen, Saarland, Sachsen, Niedersachsen, Hessen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Bremen (alcohol service only), and Baden-Württemberg (since January 2026). A reliability check for alcohol service is still required.

Full license required: Bayern, Berlin, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, NRW, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Schleswig-Holstein. The license is tied to both the operator and the specific premises.

Requirements

  • Personal reliability: Proof via police clearance certificate (type O) and extract from the Central Trade Register
  • Food safety training: Proof of participation in an IHK briefing on food law requirements (replaced by professional exam for certain qualifications)
  • Business premises: Compliance with building, hygiene, and fire safety requirements
  • No tax arrears: Tax clearance certificate from the tax office

Required Documents

  • Police clearance certificate (type O, max. 3 months old)
  • Extract from the Central Trade Register
  • Proof of IHK restaurant briefing or equivalent qualification
  • Tax clearance certificate
  • Lease agreement or proof of ownership for the premises
  • Floor plan with area calculations
  • Food hygiene training certificate per IfSG § 43 (health certificate)
  • ID card or passport
  • For legal entities: commercial register extract and articles of association

Procedure and Costs

  • Application to the local regulatory office (Ordnungsamt or Gewerbeamt)
  • Processing time: approx. 4–8 weeks
  • Fees vary by municipality and business type: Berlin approx. €200, Munich approx. €300–500, smaller cities from approx. €100
  • IHK restaurant briefing: approx. €80–150
  • Police clearance certificate: €13
  • Central Trade Register extract: €13
  • For new construction or major changes to premises, an additional building permit is required
  • A provisional license (Gestattung) can be granted for temporary events

Operating Obligations

  • Price display: Mandatory visible display of food and beverage prices per Price Indication Ordinance
  • Youth protection: Compliance with the Youth Protection Act — alcohol service to minors prohibited, mandatory signage
  • Closing hours: Observance of state-specific closing time regulations (varies by state, e.g. Bavaria 5:00–6:00 AM)
  • Hygiene standards: Compliance with HACCP guidelines and regular health authority inspections
  • Non-smoker protection: Smoking bans per state law, smoking rooms only under specific conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Gaststättenerlaubnis cost?
Fees vary by municipality: approx. €200 in Berlin, €300–500 in Munich, from €100 in smaller cities. Additional costs include police clearance (€13), trade register extract (€13), and IHK briefing (€80–150).
How long does the application take?
Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. With a complete application and early coordination with the regulatory office, it can be faster.
Do I need a Schanklizenz or is a trade registration enough?
In nine states (Brandenburg, Thüringen, Saarland, Sachsen, Niedersachsen, Hessen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Bremen, Baden-Württemberg), a notification suffices. In the remaining seven states, a full license is required.
What is the difference between Gaststättenerlaubnis and Schankerlaubnis?
The terms Gaststättenerlaubnis, Schanklizenz, Schankerlaubnis, Ausschankgenehmigung, and Gaststättenkonzession all refer essentially to the same thing: the official permit for serving alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or pub.

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