Municipal clearance certificate

We apply to your municipality for the clearance certificate needed for your trade licence.

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A municipal clearance certificate (Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung) confirms that the municipality has no outstanding claims against you, for example from taxes or property charges. Authorities ask for it for trade licences. We apply to your municipality.

Our fixed price
49.90 €
Official fee
20 € (included in our price)
Processing time
3–14 days

Who is this for?

  • You are applying for a restaurant licence, an itinerant trade card or a broker licence, for example, and the authority asks for the certificate.

How your order works

  1. 1You choose the service and pay the fixed price.
  2. 2You upload your documents and sign the power of attorney online.
  3. 3We file the application with the authority in your name.
  4. 4We follow the application and update you at every step.

Before payment

Only name, email and city.

Required documents

After payment we need

  • Application for a person or company
  • What you need the certificate for (e.g. restaurant licence)
  • Number of certificates required
  • Date of birth
  • Name at birth (if different)
  • Address
  • Full company name (for companies)
  • Current commercial register extract (for registered companies)
  • Copy of ID card or passport
  • Power of attorney (signed online)

Good to know

  • The certificate is issued by the municipality where you live or run your business. Only the municipality decides whether it is issued.
  • For a restaurant licence, Cologne requires the certificate from every place of residence and business in the last three years. Each municipality is a separate order.
  • In Cologne it costs €20 and arrives by post within a few days.

Responsible office

Gemeinde des Wohn- oder Betriebsorts (Steueramt, Stadtkasse oder Vollstreckung)

Channel to the authority

Online form · Email · Letter · Fax

The result is sent directly to your address.

Legal basis

Gewerberecht (Zuverlässigkeit, z. B. § 4 GastG) · Abgabenrecht der Gemeinde

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the certificate?

The municipality, usually the tax office or city treasury. In Cologne it is the enforcement department (Vollstreckung).

Is it the same as the certificate from the tax office?

No. The tax office (Finanzamt) issues its own certificate. The licensing authority will tell you which one you need.

What happens if something is still outstanding?

Then the municipality does not issue the certificate. We pass on what the municipality tells us.

Do I have to go to the authority myself for "Municipal clearance certificate"?

No. With your power of attorney we file the application with the responsible office (Gemeinde des Wohn- oder Betriebsorts (Steueramt, Stadtkasse oder Vollstreckung)).

How long does it take?

Usually 3 to 14 days, depending on the authority.

Is the official fee included in the price?

Yes. You pay one fixed price and the official fee is already included.

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What we do and what we don't

  • We fill in applications based on your details, file them and follow them up.
  • We give no legal or tax advice and do not assess chances of success.
  • We are a private service, not a public authority.
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