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Applying for a licence for a prostitution business

Service description
If you want to run a prostitution business, you need a licence from the competent authority. The authority has extensive monitoring rights. It can legally penalise non-compliance with the licensing requirement.

A prostitution business is a business in which sexual services are offered commercially by at least one other person and/or premises are provided for this purpose.

You require a licence if you
- operate a prostitution establishment, i.e. use a building, individual rooms or other fixed facilities to offer sexual services, for example as a brothel, walk-in centre or tantra massage studio,
- provide a prostitution vehicle for the provision of sexual services, such as a bus, camper van, caravan or boat,
- organise or conduct a prostitution event for an open circle of participants at which sexual services are offered for payment by at least one of the persons directly present, or
- operate a prostitution agency, i.e. arrange for at least one other person to provide sexual services outside the operator's prostitution establishments, for example a call-boy or call-girl agency or an escort agency. This also applies if it is only apparent from the circumstances that the procured services also include sexual acts.
The competent authority may limit the licence and impose conditions.

The licence for the provision of a prostitution vehicle is valid for a maximum of 3 years. You can extend it upon application.

If you wish to operate your prostitution business through a proxy, you will also require a proxy licence.

Please note that in addition to the authorisation requirement for the prostitution trade, other authorisation or notification requirements apply in accordance with other regulations:
- Catering industry,
- Industrial property protection
- Building protection
- Water protection
- Immission control
- Special use of public road areas
Who should I contact?
Please contact the district or city where the prostitution establishment is located.
Prerequisites
- You are at least 18 years old.
- If you wish to operate a prostitution business, you must undergo a background check by the competent authority.
- In prostitution centres, you must ensure that the rooms used for sexual services meet certain standards. This includes
  - the rooms are not visible from the outside
  - the site has a proper emergency call system
  - the doors can be opened from the inside at any time
  - the rooms are not intended for use as living rooms or bedrooms.
- The prostitution centres continue to operate:
  - adequate equipment with sanitary facilities
  - suitable recreation and break rooms
  - via individually lockable storage options for personal items
- The prostitution vehicle fulfils the minimum requirements for prostitution vehicles. These include
  - a sufficiently large interior
  - an appropriate interior design
  - adequate sanitary facilities
  - a valid operating licence
  - the vehicle is in a technically serviceable condition
  - The doors can be opened from the inside at any time
  - Help is available at all times via technical precautions
- The minimum requirements for prostitution establishments apply accordingly to the rooms used for prostitution events.
Which documents are required?
Sole proprietorship (natural person):
- Identity card, passport, electronic residence permit if applicable
- Operating concept
- Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority according to document type "0", or European certificate of good conduct
- Extract from the central trade register according to document type "9"
Companies (legal entities), for example limited liability companies:
- Current excerpt from the commercial register or register of co-operatives
- Copy of the articles of association
- Operating concept
- Identity card, passport, electronic residence permit for the legal representative if applicable
- Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority according to document type "0" for legal representation, or European certificate of good conduct
- Extract from the Central Trade Register according to document type "9" for both the company and the legal representative
For permission prostitution centre additionally:
- Floor plan drawing
For permission prostitution vehicle additionally:
- Vehicle photo
- Operating licence, registration certificate part I and part II
Legal basis
Short text
- Prostitution is subject to authorisation
- Licence required for operation of:
  - Prostitution establishments, e.g. brothel, Laufhaus, tantra massage studio
  - Prostitution vehicles, e.g. bus, camper van, caravan, boat
  - Prostitution agency, e.g. escort service
- Permission required for organisation of:
  - Prostitution events,
- Authorisation can be granted for a limited period in all cases
- there are further licences or notification obligations according to other regulations
Typing
3b
Applications / Forms
- Application note for operators of prostitution establishments

Responsible departments

Department of Public Order and Road Traffic - SG 32.4 General Regulatory Affairs