Skip to content

Search

Menu

Business licences and permits

Business licences and permits

In order to operate your business lawfully, you will need to comply with certain health and safety regulations. Certain businesses require a business trading licence to operate, and some may need to comply with additional regulations.

Business licences

You must apply for a business licence with the City if your business operations include:

  • sale and/or supply of meals;
  • hawking of meals; or
  • health services and/or entertainment.

Informal trading permits

Informal traders will need to apply for a permit with the City of Cape Town. Our informal trading regulations are outlined in our informal trading page, but you can also go straight through to our permit application page in City Connect.

Food safety compliance

All businesses that handle food, including informal traders, are required to adhere to strict food regulations. For more information, please visit our regulations for food businesses page.

Liquor licences and trading hours

You require a licence, by law, if you:

  • sell or manufacture liquor; or
  • want to extend your liquor trading hours.

View the Liquor Trading Hours Schedule for on-consumption premises.

Please note that applications for liquor licences are granted by the Western Cape Liquor Authority and not the City of Cape Town. The application process is explained in detail on the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) website.

Read the WCLA Liquor Trading Legislation for more information on the application process and regulations around the sale and manufacturing of liquor.

If you already have a liquor licence, but want to extend your trading hours, you can apply for extended liquor trading hours through the City.

Real estate permits

You can submit applications for the following estate agent permits from the City:

  • Estate agent permit
  • Estate agent permit re-registration
  • Fully certified principal agent permit
  • Intern estate agent permit

Find out how to apply for the above permits via City Connect. Each guide includes a breakdown of the application process as well as the relevant forms.

Document downloads

You have disabled JavaScript on your browser.
Please enable it in order to use City online applications.