A supermarket is simply an establishment where different types of products are sold at retail.
Normally food, beverages and general consumer products (cleaning, hygiene, etc.).
If you need to open a supermarket, read on, we tell you the keys to do it without risks.
Why do you need a supermarket license?
The activity license is a mandatory permit for the supermarket to operate in accordance with current regulations. Its purpose is to ensure that the business complies with health and safety standards, providing a safe environment and guaranteeing quality service.
Supermarket activity license requirements in Alicante
If you want to open a supermarket in Alicante, there are a series of legal, technical and administrative requirements that you must comply with for everything to work properly.
Read on, we list them below.
Activity or Opening License
First of all, you need a permit from the Alicante City Council authorizing the activity on your premises.
Works and Reforms of the Premises
Occasionally, the premises will require renovation work to comply with regulations.
Sanitary Permits
When selling food, you must comply with the applicable sanitary regulations. Among other requirements, you must ensure the conditions of organization, cleanliness and proper preservation of the products.
Company Registration
You will have to register the supermarket with the Mercantile Registry, Tax Agency and Social Security, as appropriate.
Other Specific Standards
Depending on the type of supermarket, you may need to comply with additional regulations.
Alicante City Council regulations for activity licensing
The Alicante City Council has its own regulations
What does this regulation include? Among others, the following points:
- It must have a warehouse or backroom for the storage or conservation of the products, properly conditioned.
- Whenever possible, it will be connected to a loading and unloading area.
- If the supermarket is not located inside a building for commercial use only, such as a shopping mall, access must be directly from the outside.
- Proper internal circulation will be ensured.
- A minimum number of restrooms and parking spaces are required.
- The safety measures established by current fire regulations must be complied with.

How to obtain an opening license for a supermarket
Urban development compatibility report
First of all, we must request the urban development compatibility report.
In this report, the City Council will certify if the use of the land where we want to open our business is compatible with the supermarket activity.
Works
If we need to carry out works, we will request the corresponding permit.
Depending on the magnitude of these works, we will have to present a Responsible Declaration, a Minor Works License or a Major Works License.
Supermarket Activity
Finally, we will present the activity license to be able to open the Supermarket correctly.
Documents for the Supermarket license
Depending on the environmental impact of the activity, the license application procedure will be more or less complicated.
In general terms, there are a number of basic documents that must be provided:
- Administrative-legal data.
- Favorable Urban Development Compatibility Report.
- Technical activity report.
- Installation certificates (fire safety, air conditioning, machinery, etc.)
Supermarket license Fees
The rates are a function of the m2 of the supermarket.
For example, up to 100 m2, they are 201.57 €.
How long does it take to obtain an activity license?
The time varies depending on, among other factors, whether construction work is required, the size of the facility, environmental impact, etc.
In the simplest situation, with no need for construction work and no environmental impact, for an average 80 – 100 m2 premises, it will take approximately 1 month.