Activity licence in Barcelona for bars, restaurants and hospitality
IngenieriaBCN has extensive experience in the hospitality sector. We have worked, and continue to work, with major national restaurant chains such as 100 Montaditos, La Sureña, Foster’s Hollywood, TGB, etc. All our premises have obtained their licences correctly and are operating without any kind of problem.
We take care of processing both our clients’ activity licences and their building and installation projects. We monitor and supervise all construction works, as well as the full legalisation of their installations according to each client’s requirements.
We specialise in this type of licence, both in Barcelona and throughout the rest of Catalonia and Spain.
We provide you with a highly qualified technical team of industrial engineers for the preparation and management of all types of engineering projects, activity licences, as well as building licence projects and installation projects, etc.
Thanks to our professional and highly experienced team, we can offer a fast and efficient service, responding to any problem or incident that may arise during the execution and legalisation process of your project, whether it is for an activity licence, a building licence or an installation project.
We know that when starting a new project, all factors are very important, but the economic factor plays a key role in being able to carry out your activity.
As we have an experienced team, our work is fast and uncomplicated. In this way, we can offer a very competitive price, in line with our clients’ needs.
What is an activity licence?
An activity licence is a mandatory documentary authorisation for carrying out a business activity in premises, an industrial unit or an office.
This authorisation and documentation are intended to ensure that the technical conditions of the establishment — premises, unit or office — comply with the current regulations on safety and habitability, as well as ensuring that the establishment is properly adapted to the activity that is to be carried out.
What types of activities are there?
There are two main groups of activity licences depending on the danger, unhealthiness or nuisance that the activity may cause to neighbours or passers-by in the area:
- Innocuous activities: these are activities that do not cause nuisance or damage and are not dangerous. This type of activity must meet a series of requirements regarding the size of the establishment, contracted power, etc., in order to be considered innocuous. This type of activity includes small shops, services, etc.
- Qualified or classified activities: these are activities that may cause nuisance or damage and may be dangerous for the environment and people. In this case, the potential danger or unhealthiness that may arise in the establishment means that the activity must be classified. All activities that exceed the values established by the relevant town council in terms of size, contracted power, emissions or type of activity will be registered as qualified or classified. This type of activity generally includes industry, hospitality, bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.
In which cases is an activity licence not required?
Although an activity licence is mandatory for carrying out all types of activities, there are exceptions in which the administration does not require this type of permit to be processed and obtained in order to start the business.
These exceptions apply to all activities carried out in private homes that do not cause nuisance to the neighbours in the building. For this type of activity, sales and direct customer service are not permitted.
What does an activity licence consist of?
Depending on the activity to be carried out and its classification — innocuous or classified — one type of documentation or another will be required.
For innocuous activities, a qualified and registered engineer is required to prepare and draft a report or technical project with detailed plans, depending on each case and the requirements of the town council.
For classified activities, a much more complete and detailed technical project is required, together with plans specifying all the details of the establishment, such as surface areas, layout, accessibility, installations, etc. All this must be prepared by a qualified and registered industrial engineer.
However, regardless of the activity in question, the professional engineer in charge of preparing the licence must ensure that the premises comply with all regulations and requirements of the local administration. These may include accessibility for people with reduced mobility, fire protection installations, the building licence in the event of works being carried out to ensure the legality of the renovations, as well as all current regulations, whether national or local.
Does an activity licence have any kind of expiry date?
NO, the opening licence for an activity does not expire. Even if the regulations change, the activity must always comply with the regulations in force at the time the licence was obtained.
However, if renovations or modifications are carried out in the establishment where the activity takes place, the licence must be renewed and updated, always complying with the regulations in force at the time of the renovation.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be delighted to speak with you and carry out a feasibility study for your project.
