What is an activity licence?
It is the set of technical and administrative procedures that enable a premises or establishment to carry out an economic activity in compliance with safety, accessibility, fire protection and environmental regulations.
In the Balearic Islands, the regime for the installation and exercise of activities is regulated by Law 7/2013, of 26 November, amended by Law 6/2019. This regulation classifies activities and defines which procedure each one requires.
Types of permanent activity
Activities with a stable location are classified into three types according to their level of risk and impact, defined in Annex I of the law. The procedure you will need depends on that classification:
| Type | How it is processed | Technical documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Installation permit: the Town Hall authorises before starting (prior control) | Complete technical project |
| Minor | Responsible declaration: the activity starts upon submission | Project or technical documentation |
| Harmless | Responsible declaration: the activity starts upon submission | Basic technical documentation |
Major activity
These are those with the greatest risk or impact (Title I of Annex I). They require an installation permit: the Town Hall must authorise the project before starting the works or the activity. It is the most complete procedure and the one that requires the most technical documentation.
Minor activity
These are those that are not classified as major or harmless. They are started by means of a responsible declaration accompanied by the project or technical documentation, without the need to wait for prior authorisation: the Administration's control comes afterwards.
Harmless activity
These are those that do not present significant risks (Title III of Annex I). They are processed with a responsible declaration with minimal documentation and are exempt from periodic reviews.
Not sure which category your business falls into?
The classification depends on the parameters of Annex I (type of activity, capacity, surface area, power, etc.). We review your case and confirm the procedure you need and the documentation it entails.
Which regulations and requirements must you comply with?
To obtain the licence, the premises must comply with the technical and sector-specific regulations that correspond to its activity. The most common requirements are:
Periodic review of the activity
Obtaining the licence is not the end of the road: Law 7/2013 requires permanent activities to undergo a periodic technical review every 10 years, to verify that the installations continue to meet the safety, sanitation and environmental conditions under which they were authorised.
It is prepared by a competent technician, on their own account or as part of a collaborating entity for classified activities (ECAC), who reviews the establishment and its installations and issues the corresponding report. If the result is unfavourable, the deficiencies detected must be corrected; failing to do so, the licence may lapse and force the closure of the activity.
Who does it apply to and within what deadline?
| Type of activity | Mandatory? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Yes | Deadline expired (31 December 2024) |
| Minor | Yes | Before 31 December 2026 |
| Harmless | Exempt | — |
After the first review, it is repeated every 10 years. For new activities, the deadline counts from their start-up.
What is checked?
The review verifies that the installations are kept in good condition and up to date with their mandatory inspections:
- Condition of the installations: electrical, fire protection (active and passive), fuels and others that may be dangerous or a nuisance.
- Sector inspections up to date: that the mandatory inspections (low voltage, fire protection, thermal installations, pressure equipment, lifts or legionella) are valid.
- Description of the current condition: report on the installations documented with photographs and plans or sketches of the establishment.
Does your activity need the periodic review?
If your business has been open for years, it is very likely that it already applies to you. We review your case, confirm the deadline and take care of the entire review, from the inspection to its processing before the Town Hall.
Other types
In addition to permanent activities, the law regulates other types with their own regime:
- Non-permanent activities: those carried out on a one-off basis (events, fairs, temporary shows).
- Itinerant activities: installations that move from one location to another (fairground attractions, circuses), subject to registration in the regional register.
- Common infrastructures: shared-service installations (for example, those in the common areas of buildings or groupings), with their own processing regime.
What do we do?
We handle the complete file, from the prior consultation to the opening, so that you only have to worry about your business:
Frequently asked questions
What is an activity licence?
It is the set of technical and administrative procedures that enable a premises or establishment to carry out an economic activity in compliance with safety, accessibility, fire protection and environmental regulations.
What is the difference between major, minor and harmless activity?
A major activity requires a prior installation permit from the Town Hall. Minor and harmless activities are started by means of a responsible declaration, with subsequent control. The classification is established in Annex I of Law 7/2013 of the Balearic Islands.
How often must the periodic review of an activity be carried out in the Balearic Islands?
Permanent major and minor activities must undergo a periodic technical review every 10 years, in accordance with Law 7/2013 of the Balearic Islands. Major activities should already have submitted it (the deadline ended on 31 December 2024) and minor activities have until 31 December 2026. Harmless activities are exempt.