Travel trade; notification of an activity not requiring a licence

If you wish to sell or purchase goods on a commercial basis without a prior order, outside a commercial establishment or without having such an establishment, offer services, solicit orders for services, or operate as a fairground trader, you will generally require a licence (itinerant trade licence) (for more information, see ‘Related Topics’ – ‘Itinerant trade; Licence’).

However, certain activities do not require a travel trade licence (see "Related topics" - "Occasional offering of goods for sale; applying for a permit"). However, some of these activities are instead subject to notification to the municipality, unless the trade is already subject to trade notification. These are

• the sale of goods, the purchase of goods, the offering of services or the solicitation of orders for services within the municipality of your place of residence or business premises, provided that the municipality has no more than 10,000 inhabitants,
• the distribution of foodstuffs or other everyday goods from a non-fixed sales outlet or other establishment at regular, shorter intervals at the same location,
• the offering for sale of printed works on public paths, streets, squares or in other public places.

In this respect, you must submit a trade licence application to the responsible municipality. Local jurisdiction lies with the municipality in whose district you have your habitual residence.