To open a coffee shop in Iceland, secure a Rekstrarleyfi (operating license) for a veitingastaður from the District Commissioner (Sýslumaður), issued only after approvals from your municipal health inspectorate (Heilbrigðiseftirlit), fire brigade, and building authority. Register your company and kennitala with the Company Register (Fyrirtækjaskrá), obtain VAT (VSK) registration with Skatturinn before trading, and choose a license category without alcohol; beer/wine service requires a separate áfengisveitingaleyfi via the municipality with police opinion. Health approval hinges on a site plan, compliant ventilation and handwash stations, a documented HACCP/food-safety plan aligned with Regulation (EC) 852/2004, staff hygiene training, pest control, potable water verification, a grease trap sized to fixtures, and contracts for waste and used oil. Provide fire-safety drawings, occupancy load, alarms/extinguishers, and proof of accessibility. Pick a unit already licensed for food use to compress timelines; light-prep cafés (no frying) face simpler ventilation and grease requirements. Expect application and surveillance fees set locally and a 4–8 week lead time after complete submissions. Register for outdoor seating and signage with the municipality; music playback requires a STEF license. Keep daily temperature, cleaning, and traceability logs—health officers will audit them. Premises, not the company, carry the license. Renewal depends on ongoing compliance, inspections.
