Important

Always check with the City Council whether the premises have a suitable license for the catering/beverage business

The applicant must first contact the facilitating entity – the City Council – of the area where the establishment is to be located. Here, they should verify whether the building/unit has a use license compatible with the activity they intend to develop. Most municipalities require the constitutive title to specify "catering and/or beverages" as the intended use.

If this is not the case, you will probably be required to go through a process of altering the use license, including submitting location plans, architectural project, specialty projects, among others.

Another important aspect that can complicate licensing occurs when the building is subject to the horizontal property regime, in which case you will need authorization from all co-owners to proceed with the alteration of the use license.

Still at the municipality, you can obtain information on the need to submit documentation for compliance with recently published legislation that may be required. As the "zero licensing" initiative implies a subsequent inspection to verify the accuracy of the prior declaration and conformity with the legislation, it is likely that these elements will be requested at this stage, namely a new layout of the premises, equipment plan, terms of responsibility (water, gas), etc.

In municipalities that already have an electronic one-stop-shop, you can electronically fill out the prior declaration of opening or modification (e.g., change of owner/operator name) of the establishment there. Several municipalities provide the paper form which you can fill out and submit in this way.

The other way to obtain opening authorization is online through the Empresa Portal, which requires a citizen card reader and digital credentialing in the system with the authentication PIN. 

In summary:
1. Check with the City Council for the viability of the location to carry out catering and/or beverage activities.
2. Fill out and submit the prior declaration of opening/modification of the establishment. 

It is assumed that the applicant is aware of and complies with all legal and regulatory obligations regarding the installation and operation of a catering and/or beverage establishment. 

Proof of submission of the prior declaration and payment of the due fees constitutes the opening title (formerly "alvará") of the establishment, so you can start your business immediately.