CERTAIN businesses need a licence to operate. Before opening any business find out what the requirements are. You may not begin trading in a business that requires a licence before the licences has been issued. Trading without a valid licence is punishable with a fine of up to R2 000. Licensing is governed by the Business Act No 71 of 1991. 

• Trade Licence Organogram [Acrobat format, 95kb]

Businesses that need a licence
If you are running any of the following businesses, you will need to apply for a licence. Please see Schedule 1 of the Business Act 71 of 1991 for details.

Food provision
You need a licence to sell or supply meals, take-aways or perishable foodstuff.

Health and entertainment facilities
You need a licence for:

• Turkish baths, saunas and health baths;
• massage or infra-red treatments;
• male and female escorts;
• three or more slot machines and electronic games;
• three or more snooker or billiard tables;
• nightclubs and discotheques, where live or loud music is played;
• cinemas and theatres; and
• adult premises.

Hawkers
If you are a hawker selling food and meals, which you take from place to place or sell from a vehicle, you need to have a licence.

To run a business in Johannesburg
You will need to apply for a licence from the City's Trade Licence Department.

In addition, you will need to pay a one-off application fee.

Once the documentation is completed, the application will be forwarded to five departments to check that the City requirements are met:

• Environmental health
• Noise and air pollution control
• Public safety
• Urban planning
• Building control

An inspection is carried out of the premises by the departments concerned.

Only when all departments have retuned favorable reports and recommend approval the trade license will be issued

Applying for a licence
Complete an RP1 form, which can be downloaded or collected from one of the regional offices.

This form then needs to be returned with all the necessary supporting documentation:

• In case of a company, close corporation or partnership a copy of the company certificate and list of directors is required
• Identity documents for all directors and partners, including that of the manager or person in charge
• Copy of liquor licence
• Copy of menu in the case of a food trader
• Copy of SARS tax certificate
• Copy of approved building layout plan
• Zoning certificate

A once-off fee is payable at the Business Licence Office when lodging your application. Please note, however, that cheques cannot be accepted by Licensing Officers, but can be paid at a council pay point on vote no. 035922517485339.

Once this is done all the documents can be handed in at the Office of Inspectorate:

Environmental Health Building
Cnr Avon Street & Main Reef Road
Longdale (Opposite the Langlaagte SAPS)

Office hours:
7am – 10 am and 3pm – 3.30pm

If reports received from the departments indicate that other requirements need to be satisfied, the Trade Licence Department will send a notice to the applicant. The applicant must comply with the requirements and then arrange a re-inspection with the officer concerned.

The licence will be issued only once all five departments have returned a recommendation for approval.

Note that a trade licence or application cannot be transferred with a change of ownership. A business licence can be withdrawn or suspended if there is a failure to comply with endorsements.
 
Enquiries:
Gert Deysel (Business Licence Officer)
Tel: 011 226 8327
Fax: 011 474 6707
Cell: 082 559 3785
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Harold Mashapa (Business Licence Officer)
Tel: 011 226 8327
Fax: 011 474 6707
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Inspection of premises
The following departments will do an inspection and will issue a recommendation after an inspection at your business has been done. Contact these departments for more information:

1. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

A Motsuki, F Visser or H Steenkamp
Environmental Health Building
Cnr Avon Street & Main Reef Road
Longdale

G Dhlamini
Environmental Health Building
Cnr Avon Street & Main Reef Road
Longdale

D Konqobe (from 7.30am – 9am)
Street Level
B Block
Civic Center
158 Loveday Street
Braamfontein

L Oakenfull (Information & Direction, from 8am – 1pm only)
7th Floor
A Block
Civic Center
158 Loveday Street
Braamfontein

Paul Cilliers (from 8am – 10am only)
4th Floor
Roodepoort Civic Center
100 Christian De Wet Road
Roodepoort

Albert Van Der Walt (from 8am – 10am only)
B-block
Sandton Civic Center
Cnr West and Rivonia roads
Sandown

Tel: 011 881 6320
Fax: 011 881 6205 

Other licensing bodies

Registrar of Companies
Contact the Registrar of Companies to register as a company.
Tel: 0861 843 384
Fax: 0861 843 888

Liquor licences
To apply for a liquor licence, contact the liquor officer at your nearest police station or the Liquor Board:

Matlotlo House
94 Main Street, cnr of Harrison Street
Johannesburg

Music rights
You also must apply to the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) to play any kind of music.

73 Juta Street, cnr De Beer Street
Braamfontein

For street traders
Contact the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (Hawker Unit)

Zed Mangaliso
Metro Police Offices
Cnr Village and Loveday roads
Wemmer
Johannesburg
Block F
Room 20

Tel: 011 490 1765/77
Fax: 011 490 1665

Download the following document is Adobe Acrobat format.

Annexure A [202kb]
Policy for the implementation and enforcement of the Businesses Act 71 of 1991

Annexure A1 [101kb]
Schedule 1:Businesses in respect of which a licence is required

Annexure B [200kb]
Legislative process guidelines for the issuing, refusal, withdrawal and suspension of business licences, and the amendment or revoking of conditions

Annexure C [229kb]
Protocol that has to be followed by business licence officers when implementing and enforcing the Businesses Act 71 of 1991 and the council's policy for the implementation of the Act

Guidelines and protocol [177kb]
Policy, legislative process guidelines and protocol for the implementation and enforcement of the Businesses Act 71 of 1991

The tariffs
The City of Johannesburg has amended its Environmental Health Services tariffs with effect from July 2008.

Offences and fines
The Business Act 71 of 1991 sets a out a number of offences concerning business licences.

Business licensing regional information
Information on the regional offices