Catering

Catering businesses that serve alcohol at private events outside their regular premises need a specific type of serving permit (serveringstillstand) for catering. This permit allows you to serve alcohol to closed groups at locations other than your own restaurant or bar.

The permit is applied for through the municipality, and the catering business must have its own kitchen for food preparation. Each serving occasion must be reported to the municipality in advance, including the address, date, time, and expected number of guests. A separate permit is needed for each municipality where you plan to serve.

Requirements

  • Preparation kitchen: For permanent serving permits, a dedicated kitchen for food preparation is required. The kitchen does not need to be located in the municipality issuing the serving permit.
  • Permit per municipality: If you wish to conduct catering in multiple municipalities, one preparation kitchen in one municipality is sufficient, but a permit for catering is required in each municipality where alcohol service will take place.
  • Notification per occasion: Before each serving occasion, the notification must include information about the address of the relevant premises, date and time of the event, and number of people in the closed party.
  • Fire safety: If it is not a private premises, you must provide information about the suitability of the premises from a fire safety perspective.

Permit Procedure

  • Application: Submit an application for permanent serving permit for closed parties at catering to the municipality where the serving activity is to be conducted.
  • Application fee: The municipality charges an application fee for serving permits, which varies depending on the municipality.
  • Premises approval: The premises must be approved by the municipality before serving can take place.
  • Multiple municipalities: If the serving activity is to be conducted in several municipalities, you must apply for a permit in each municipality.