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Organising trade fairs, exhibitions and markets on a commercial basis – applying for authorisation
Upon application, trade fairs, exhibitions and markets may be designated as such under certain conditions.
Approved trade fairs, exhibitions and markets enjoy what are known as ‘market privileges’, meaning they are largely exempt from certain regulations, such as those relating to shop opening hours or working hours. There is an obligation to hold approved weekly markets, annual fairs and special markets.
Forms/Online Services
Responsible authority
the lower administrative authority
Depending on the location where the event is to take place, the lower administrative authorities are
- the municipal administration,
- the district administration office, or
- the administrative association, provided it has a population of more than 20,000.
In the case of weekly markets, the decision is taken by the local authorities that do not belong to an administrative association and by the administrative associations themselves.
Details
Prerequisite
- The existence of an event eligible for authorisation, as described in detail in the Trade Regulation Act with regard to the various types of event
Example: The event must possess the characteristics of a trade fair, a wholesale market or a specialist market - Personal reliability of the applicant and of the persons responsible for managing the event
- Fulfilment of the requirements laid down in the Trade Regulation Act for the respective type of event, for example
- measures must be taken to protect visitors;
- the holding of the event must not conflict with the public interest; for example, it must not contravene provisions of building regulations or environmental protection legislation – such as those concerning noise – or provisions of public holiday legislation, nor must it give rise to fears of other significant disturbances to public safety or order, for instance due to road traffic or visitor traffic
- a suitable venue (for example, specialised markets must not take place in retail premises)
Procedure
You must apply for the assessment; this can be done in writing or, provided the relevant authority has set up an online portal, electronically. The application should include the following details:
- Name of the organiser
- Date, duration (start and end), times (daily opening hours) and venue of the event
- Nature of the event (description of the event based on its characteristics)
- In particular: details of the goods and services on offer
Some administrative authorities provide a form or make it available for download online.
Once the event has been authorised, you will receive written notification.
The decision may be subject to conditions in the public interest; this may also be imposed retrospectively.
Please note: Once the event has been scheduled, you, as the organiser of scheduled weekly markets, annual fairs and special markets, are obliged to hold them.
Deadlines
It is advisable to submit the application no later than six weeks before the event begins.
Required documents
- A copy of your identity card or a comparable form of identification
- A current extract from the commercial or co-operative register, provided the organising company is entered in the register; otherwise, a copy of the articles of association (for example, in the case of a civil-law partnership (GbR))
- If the company is based abroad: documents from the country of incorporation proving its legal form
- Extract from the Federal Central Register (certificate of good conduct) for submission to a public authority for every person entrusted with the management of the business or a branch office (in the case of legal entities: for all persons authorised to represent the entity under the law, articles of association or partnership agreement)
- Extract from the Central Trade Register for every person entrusted with the management of the business or a branch office (in the case of legal entities: for the entity itself and for all persons authorised to represent it under the law, the articles of association or the partnership agreement)
- If you are resident abroad: documents from your home country proving your personal reliability
Upon request by the competent authority:
- Certificate regarding tax matters from the relevant tax office
- Extract from the register of debtors at the central enforcement court
- Information from the insolvency court as to whether insolvency proceedings have been opened
- Certificate of no outstanding tax liabilities from the local tax office
To assess whether the characteristics of the proposed event (e.g. trade fair, specialist market) are met, supporting documents, for example
- provisional list of participants
- List of the types of goods or services to be offered
- Where applicable, the terms and conditions of participation set by you as the organiser
The competent authority may request further documents to verify your personal reliability.
In the case of legal entities (GmbH, Unternehmensgesellschaft, AG, registered cooperative), you need only complete the application form for the legal entity itself. You must submit all personal documents for all natural persons authorised to manage the business (for example, identity documents). For the legal entity, you will also need an extract from the Central Trade Register.
Partnerships (GbR, KG, OHG, PartG, GmbH Co. KG) are not eligible for authorisation as such. Therefore, each managing partner must obtain authorisation. For each of these individuals, you must submit a completed application form and all relevant personal documents.
Costs
The amount of the fees is determined in accordance with the local authority’s schedule of fees or the district administration’s statutory order.
Miscellaneous
Further information on organising weekly markets can be found in the document ‘Organising Weekly Markets’.
In principle, anyone may take part in a trade fair, exhibition or market. As the organiser, you may restrict the event to specific groups of exhibitors, traders and visitors, or exclude individual applicants from taking part for objectively justified reasons, particularly if there is insufficient space available. The selection of applicants must be based on objective, verifiable selection criteria. These include criteria such as the appeal, balance, diversity and novelty of the business operated by the applicant.
Legal basis
Gewerbeordnung (Gewo):Gewerbeordnung (Gewo):
- §§ 64 bis 71b Gewerbeordnung (GewO) (Messen, Ausstellungen, Märkte)
Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz für Baden-Württemberg (Landesverwaltungsverfahrensgesetz - LVwVfG):
- § 3a Absatz. 1 Landesverwaltungsverfahrensgesetz (LVwVfG) (eElektronische Kommunikation)
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 14.07.2026
