Authorisation for a terrace in a public area

Are you the manager of a hospitality business wishing to set up a terrace in a public area? This kind of private occupation of space is subject to an authorisation by the commune in which your business is located. 

The procedure

Depending on the commune, the request for a terrace or other furniture in a public area must be made via a specific form and with the requested documents. The application will be processed according to the type of terrace requested: simple, fixed, seasonal or annual. In the case of a fixed terrace on floorboards of over 50 m2, planning permission may be necessary. In certain situations, as the manager, you will need to consult local police to ensure that public mobility is safeguarded. The commune will also apply a fee which will be calculated according to the surface area and the duration of the installation. 

Documents you will need to provide

The documents to include depend on the type of request but also on the commune. In normal circumstances, you will need: 

- certificate of conformity for the business 

- proof of commercial registration 

- VAT registration according to the type of commercial activity

- registration in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (Banque Carrefour des Entreprises)

- ID document of the owner/manager 

- descriptive layout plan of the desired set-up, with a presentation of the furniture 

- photograph of the location.