Summary

Businesses across Apokoronas municipality that plan to use public space for outdoor seating or merchandise displays in 2026 must submit a permit application to the municipality's Finance Department by Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The requirement covers restaurants, cafés, grills, snack bars and retail shops. Applications will not be processed unless all outstanding public-space fees from 2025 have been paid and the business has no overdue debts to the municipality.

Outdoor seating and merchandise permits for 2026: what Apokoronas businesses need to do

Restaurants, cafés, grills, snack bars and retail shops in Apokoronas that want to place tables, chairs or goods on public ground this year must apply for a permit by Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The municipality has opened the application process for public-space use licences for 2026, and businesses that miss the deadline risk having their outdoor operation treated as unlawful.

Who needs to apply?

Any business intending to occupy public municipal space — for outdoor seating or for displaying merchandise — must submit a fresh application, regardless of whether it held a permit in previous years.

What documents are required?

Every application must include the following:

Signed application form: A request for the use of public space, signed by the legal representative of the business

Operating licence: A copy of the establishment's founding and operating licence, or the currently valid business registration notification

Tax identification: A printout from the Taxisnet portal (or a till receipt) showing the business's tax number, trading name and registered activities

Site plan: A sketch showing the outline, dimensions and area (in square metres) of the space requested, the position of the premises, the width of the frontage, the proposed location and dimensions of the occupation, and the layout of tables, chairs and any other moveable equipment

Conditions for approval

The municipality will only issue a permit where:

2025 fees are settled: All public-space usage fees from 2025 must be fully paid

No outstanding debts: The business must have no confirmed overdue debts to the municipality — unless a formal repayment plan has already been agreed

What is and is not allowed on public space?

Permanent structures may not be installed on any licensed public space. Moveable additions — such as sun-shading systems, decorative lighting or ornamental plants — require separate prior approval from the relevant municipal department (Technical Services or Environmental Services) before they can be put in place.

If a municipal inspection finds that public space is being used without a permit, or that a business has exceeded the area it was licensed to occupy, that use will be treated as unauthorised.

Where and when to apply

Where: Finance Department, Revenue Office, Apokoronas Municipality

Deadline: March 31, 2026

Announcement – Granting of licences for the use of public spaces for the year 2026 for the placement of tables/chairs & merchandise

24 February 2026, 1:29 PM

Entrepreneurs, owners of restaurants, cafés, grills, snack-bars, owners of commercial establishments and other professionals who intend to make use of the municipality's public spaces for the placement of tables and chairs and merchandise are invited, in accordance with Municipal Council Decision 143/2021 on the determination of public-space usage fees and Municipal Council Decision 50/26-03-2024 on the manner of payment thereof, to submit a relevant application to the Department of Financial Services of the Municipality – Revenue Office, no later than Tuesday 31/03/2026.

The applications of interested businesses must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:

Application for the grant of use of public space, signed by the legal representative of the business.
Copy of the Establishment and Operating Licence of the business, or a valid notification in force.
Printout from Taxisnet (or till receipt) showing the tax identification number (AFM), the business name and the activities of the business.
Site plan (outline, dimensions and area in sq.m. of the space) showing the position of the business premises, the width of the frontage, the position and dimensions of the proposed occupation, the layout of the tables and chairs and other moveable equipment.

A prerequisite for the granting of the licence for the use of public space is the full payment of the applicable usage fees for the year 2025 and the existence of a municipal tax clearance certificate (no confirmed overdue debts of the interested businesses to the Municipality of Apokoronas, with the exception of cases where a repayment arrangement has been made in accordance with the relevant legislation).

It is noted that the installation of permanent structures on the public space granted for use is prohibited, while for the installation of other moveable structures (shading systems, decorative lighting and decoration with ornamental plants, etc.) prior approval from the competent service (Technical Service – Environmental Service) of the Municipality is required.

In the event that, following an on-site inspection by the competent municipal service, it is established that public space is being used without prior authorisation or that the permitted area of the public space granted for use has been exceeded, the use shall be deemed unauthorised.

We request the timely submission of your applications.