Occasionally, for a special occasion, you want your catering business to be open longer than your operating permit allows. You must apply for an exemption. You can do this a maximum of 4 times per calendar year.
What do you need to know
- A closing hours exemption is only required if you want your catering business to be open earlier or later than the closing times stated in your operating permit.
- You cannot apply for an exemption for private parties and celebrations in your commercial catering business
- An exemption from closing times is not valid for your terrace
- The mayor has 6 weeks to decide on your application and can postpone the decision by 6 weeks
Terms & conditions
- You must have your own operating permit for your catering business
- You cannot apply for an exemption during the period in which you may temporarily operate on the operating permit of your predecessor in the event of a takeover
- You can only apply for an exemption from closing times for special occasions that are publicly accessible
- You must request an exemption from closing times at least 6 weeks in advance
- You may apply for an exemption from closing times a maximum of 4 times per calendar year
What do you have to do
Send along
If you are not the entrepreneur of the catering business, an authorization showing that you are entitled to apply for the exemption on behalf of the entrepreneur.
Apply for other exemptions
- If you also play (amplified and/or live) music (i.e. other than background music) in your catering business during the special occasion, you must also have an Notification of incidental party doing. You do this digitally no later than 5 working days before the special occasion takes place, but preferably earlier. You may report an incidental party a maximum of 6 times a year
- If you have a para-commercial Alcohol Act permit (association or foundation) and you also want to serve alcohol during the special occasion outside the serving times that apply to your catering business according to your Alcohol Act permit, you must also apply for an Alcohol Serving Exemption. You do this digitally, no later than 4 weeks before the special occasion. You may apply for an Exemption to serve alcohol a maximum of 6 times per calendar year
Contact
- If you have any questions, please call 14 035 (you ask for the Hospitality team). Or you can contact us via the contact form..
What does it cost
Applying for an exemption from closing times costs €70,20. You will receive a separate invoice for this.
