Published: 22.11.2023.
Updated: 11.12.2023.

Service Directive (Directive 2006/123/EC) provides for freedom of establishment and the free movement of services. At the same time, Article 5 of the Services Directive provides that EU Member States have the right to establish authorization procedures for service providers at a national, regional, and local level. Article 14 of Law on Free Provision of Services provides that in Latvia, authorization procedures may be determined and implemented not only at the national level but also at the level of local authorities.

A list of the areas of services in which local governments are delegated the right to determine the procedures for issuing permits and conciliations or the right to issue permits and conciliations is provided below.

Important! Before the provision of the service, it is necessary to ascertain whether it is necessary to obtain a permit or consent for the provision of the relevant services in the administrative territory of the specific local government.

Upon commencing the provision of decentralized sewer services (hereinafter - asenisation service), it is necessary to register with the relevant local government in the administrative territory of which it is intended to provide asenisation services. Local governments have delegated the right to set minimum requirements for providers of asensant services, registration procedures, documents to be submitted for registration, or other requirements for the provision of the service in binding regulations of local governments.

Additional information:

When commencing the provision of public catering services within the framework of street trade, service providers shall be required to receive the coordination of the relevant local government in the administrative territory in which they is intended to provide public catering services within the framework of street trade. Local governments have delegated the right to determine in binding regulations of local governments the procedures by which the provision of public catering services within the framework of street trade is to be harmonised with the local government and to prescribe other requirements for the provision of the service.

Additional information:

Service providers shall be required to obtain a permit from the relevant local government prior to the commencement of trade in alcoholic beverages, which is intended to trade in the administrative territory of alcoholic beverages. However, prior to the provision of retail trade services for alcoholic beverages in holdings, it should be noted that the service provision is authorised by those local governments that have issued binding rules on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in holdings. Upon commencing the provision of the referred-to service, it is necessary to obtain coordination from the local government, which has issued binding regulations regarding the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in holdings. Local governments have delegated the right to prescribe procedures for the outward trade of alcoholic beverages, procedures for the issuance of a permit, or other requirements for the provision of a service in binding regulations of local governments, as well as the right to determine the binding rules for local governments to determine the places of retail holding of alcoholic beverages, documents to be submitted for consent, or other requirements for the provision of the service.

Additional information:

Upon commencing the provision of crematorium services, service providers shall be required to receive a special permit (licence) from the relevant local government in the administrative territory of which the relevant crematorium is located.

In order to receive a special permit (licence) from the relevant local government, it is necessary to submit:

  • application;
  • documents attesting the right of the merchant to utilise immovable property for the performance of cremation, if the immovable property is not owned by the merchant;
  • documents attesting that in immovable property in which cremation is intended:
    • means a room containing an oven for cremating the deceased;
    • means the room in which the deceased is prepared for cremation;
    • is the place of storage of the deceased at a temperature not exceeding 4 °C;
    • there is a separate room providing for the exit from the deceased;
    • means the room in which the merchant keeps the records;
  • a document proving the payment of the State fee.

Additional information:

Upon commencing the demonstration of fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnic articles, service providers shall be required to receive the coordination of the relevant local government in the administrative territory in which the mentioned demonstrations are intended to be provided.

In order to receive the consent of the relevant local government, it is necessary to submit:

  • an application (in a free form) in which the information regarding:
    • merchant (name, registration number, registered office),
    • the manager of the merchant (given name, surname),
    • the person responsible for safety (given name, surname),
    • pyrotechnicians (given name, surname, and certificate number),
    • the customer: the name, surname, personal identity number, declared and actual place of residence, contact phone, e-mail address or legal person (company name, registration number, legal and actual address, preferred type of communication, contact phone, e-mail address);
  • a plan and programme for the demonstration of pyrotechnic articles.

Attention! It is necessary to submit a copy of the plan and programme for the demonstration of fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnic articles to the State Fire and Rescue Service unit, which is located in the administrative territory of the relevant local government, in which it is intended to provide the mentioned demonstrations, as well as a plan for the demonstration of fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnic articles, and to coordinate the programme with:

  • State Border Guard, if fireworks or theatrical pyrotechnic articles are intended to be demonstrated in the State border area;
  • A flight control centre where fireworks or theatrical pyrotechnic articles are intended to be demonstrated in air corridors;
  • The Regional Environment Board or the Marine Environment Board of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, if fireworks or theatrical pyrotechnic articles are intended to be demonstrated closer to 300 metres from objects of cultural and historical importance, such as cemeteries, cult buildings, reserves, and national parks.

Additional information:

When commencing the provision of public entertainment services, service providers shall be required to obtain a permit from the relevant local government for the installation of public entertainment equipment. Local governments have the right to specify in their binding regulations the procedures for the issuance of the authorization of public entertainment equipment, documents to be submitted, and other requirements for the provision of the service.

Additional information:

Upon commencing the organisation of entertainment of an intimate nature, service providers shall be required to obtain a permit from the relevant local government, which is intended to provide entertainment services of an intimate nature in a public place in the administrative territory.

In order to obtain the authorization of the relevant local government, it is necessary to submit:

  • an application (in a free form) which contains information regarding an intimate entertainment operator (for natural persons: given name, surname, personal identity number, for legal persons: company name, registration number, legal address);
  • a rental contract or document certifying the right of ownership to the place where intimate entertainment will be organised;
  • the agreement of the owner of the place where intimate entertainment will be organised if the entertainment operator of an intimate nature is not the owner of that site;
  • a description of the planned measures.

Additional information:

Upon commencing the provision of a service related to the sale, demonstration, or release for charge of materials of a pornographic nature, service providers shall be required to obtain the coordination of the relevant local government within the administrative territory of which it is intended to trade, demonstrate, or release such goods for charge. Local governments have the right to specify in their binding rules the procedures for harmonising fees, documents to be submitted for coordination, or other requirements for the provision of services for materials of a pornographic nature.

Additional information:

Upon commencing the provision of interest-related or non-formal education services, service providers shall be required to receive a license or permit from the relevant local government, in the administrative territory of which it is intended to provide interest-related or non-formal education services.

Additional information:

Upon commencing the organisation of public events, it is necessary for service providers to obtain a permit from the relevant local government in the administrative territory of which a public event is intended to be organised (including if a public event in motorsport, motorsport, or water motorsport is organised). If it is intended to organise a public event in the administrative territories of several municipalities, it is necessary to obtain a permit from all municipalities.

In order to obtain the authorization of the relevant local government, it is necessary to submit:

  • a submission (in a free form), which shall specify information regarding the organiser of the measure, the responsible persons regarding technical security, public order and security, order-makers, the name, type, purpose, location, date, start and planned end time, the planned number of visitors and participants of the measure, and information regarding the dangerous equipment to be used in the measure (if such facilities are provided for) use), the necessary support of the State and local authorities, as well as information on the use of symbolism by the former Soviet republic or Nazi Germany, if the purpose of their use is related to educational and other purposes (if such is intended to be used);
  • copies of contracts entered into with the order-makers and the persons responsible for the technical safety, public order and security of the measure;
  • the plan of the measure;
  • a harmonised safety plan for an increased risk measure (if the planned public measure is an increased risk measure);
  • a statement that the person responsible for public order and security has at least two years of experience in the planning or implementation of physical security measures (if the measure is an increased risk measure);
  • the written consent of the owner of the site of the event to the organisation of the measure (if the owner of the place of the event is not the organiser of the measure);
  • the by-law of sports competitions, if the planned public event is a sports competition;
  • licences for the location (route) of competitions issued by the sports federation and copies of the licence of the relevant category chief judge licensed in the relevant type of sport (if the measure provides for competition in motorsport, motorsport or water motor sport);
  • the possessor of dangerous equipment shall have the permit necessary for the use of dangerous equipment (if dangerous equipment will be located or used in the measure).

Additional information:

Upon commencing the provision of services for the organisation of street trade, service providers shall be required to obtain a permit from the relevant local government, in the administrative territory of which it is intended to provide services for the organisation of street commerce.

In order to receive a local government permit, it is necessary to submit:

  • an application (in a free form) in which the information regarding a natural person (given name, surname, taxpayer registration code), a legal person (company name, registration number) or a public person (name, registration number) is indicated;
  • information on the location, timing and duration of the street trade;
  • information on groups of goods intended for sale;
  • a list of trading participants;
  • a statement of the trade participant regarding the existence of a technical passport for the registration of taxes and other payments registered in the State Revenue Service or a technical passport of the equipment or receipts registered in the State Revenue Service;
  • other information or consent specified in the relevant local government's binding rules.

Additional information:

When commencing the production of wine, fermented beverages, intermediate products, or other alcoholic beverages, service providers shall be required to obtain a permit from the relevant local government in the administrative territory in which the production of these drinks is intended. Local governments have delegated the right to prescribe the procedures for issuing a permit for the production of wine, alcoholic beverages, intermediate products, or other alcoholic beverages in binding regulations of local governments, documents to be submitted, or other requirements for the provision of the service.

Additional information:

Service providers shall be required to obtain a permit from the relevant local government prior to the commencement of street trade, which is intended to provide street services in the administrative territory.

In order to obtain the authorization of the relevant local government, it is necessary to submit:

  • a submission (in a free form) specifying the information regarding a natural person: - given name, surname, and personal identity number, if the natural person has not registered an economic activity, if it is registered, the registration code of the taxpayer, the name of the undertaking; and the registration number for the legal person;
  • information on the marketable product groups and the place, time and duration of the trade;
  • co-ordination with the owner or legal possessor of real estate or the possessor of real estate owned by the State (except in cases where trade is planned on the seaside or in public waters), which is intended to perform the trade in real estate;
  • co-ordination with the organizer of the measure, if the trade is intended to be carried out at the place and time of the event, except in the case where the organizer of the measure is a local government of the relevant administrative territory or an institution established by it;
  • route and time information where the trade is intended to be carried out from the mobile retail selling point and where the sale is intended to be carried out in several public places;
  • a statement regarding the existence of a technical passport for the registration of taxes and other payments registered in the State Revenue Service or a technical passport for the equipment or receipts registered with the State Revenue Service;
  • other information or consent specified in the relevant local government's binding rules.

Additional information:

When starting to provide tourism guide services, service providers shall be required to receive a certificate from the relevant local government or to perform registration for the provision of tourism guide services in the administrative territory of which the provision of tourism guide services is intended. Local governments have delegated the right to specify requirements for the professional qualification of tourist guides in binding regulations of local governments, as well as procedures for certifying tourist guides and determining other requirements for the provision of the service.

Additional information: