Basic commercial regulations
Here you’ll find specific regulations relating to commerce: concerning facilities, opening hours, services, fairs, administrative interventions, etc.
Municipal regulations can be accessed on this website. For other regulations, go to the following websites:
Common provisions
Government of Catalonia regulations
- Act 18/2017, of 1 August, on commerce, services and fairs.
National regulations
- Act 7/1996, of 15 January, on retail commerce regulations.
- Act 17/2009, of 23 November, on free access to service activities and their performance. It incorporates the regulations established in Directive 2006/123/EC, of 12 December, on services in the internal market.
Commercial facilities
City Hall of Barcelonat
Government of Catalonia regulations
- Executive Decree 1/2009, of 22 December, on commercial facility regulations. ENG
- Decree 378/2006, of 10 October, implementing Act 18/2005, of 27 December, on commercial facilities (this Act was repealed by Executive Decree 1/2009, although the decree remains in force)
Bear in mind the urban-planning legislation, which also regulates aspects relating to commercial facilities. Legislative Decree 1/2010, of 3 August, approving the consolidated text of the Urban Planning Law.
Shopping hours
Government of Catalonia regulations
- Act 18/2017, of 1 August, on commerce, services and fairs.
- Order EMC/127/2017, of 16 June, establishing the Sunday and public holiday opening hours for commercial establishments in 2018 and 2019.
National regulations
- Act 1/2004, of 21 December, on business hours.
- Decree 2807/1972, of 15 September, regulating advertising and price marking, concerning the sale of retail items to the public.
Administrative procedures
Government of Catalonia regulations
- Act 18/2020, of December 28, of facilitating economic activity.
- Act 3/2010, of 18 February, on fire prevention and safety at commercial establishments, activities, infrastructures and buildings.
- Act 20/2009, of 4 December on the environmental protection and control of activities. ENG
- Decree 136/1999, of 18 May, approving the general regulations on the Catalan environmental authority's comprehensive action.
National regulations
- Act 12/2012, of 26 December, on urgent measures for the liberalisation of commerce and specific services.
Crowded events and establishments
Government of Catalonia regulations
- Act 11/2009, of 6 July, on the authorities' regulation of public shows and recreational activities.
- Decree 112/2010, of 31 August, approving the Regulations on Public Shows and Recreational Activities.
- Ministry of the Interior Order /358/2011, of 19 December, regulating the business hours of establishments open to the public, public shows and recreational activities subject to Act 11/2009.
Other regulations of interest:
Government of Catalonia regulations
- Act 1/1998, of 7 January, on language policy.
- Act 22/2010, of 20 July, on the Consumer Code of Catalonia.
- Decree 121/2013, of 26 February, regulating official consumer complaints and claims forms.
- Resolution of 20 October 1992, exempting furrier shops and jewellers from the obligation for price information set out under Act 23/1991.
- Decree 73/2002, of 19 February, regulating the display of prices for products offered to consumers and users (Correction of errata in the Official Journal of the Generalitat of Catalonia No. 3628, of 03.05.2002).
- Legislative Decree 1/2009, of 21 July, approving the consolidated text of the Act on waste.
National regulations
- Legislative Royal Decree 1/2007, of 16 November, approving the consolidated text of the General Act for the Defence of Consumers and Users and other complementary acts.
- Royal Decree 231/2008, of 15 February, regulating the Consumer Arbitration System.
- Royal Decree 2695/1977, of 28 October, on regulations concerning pricing, as amended by Royal Decree 816/1982, of 28 March.
- Royal Decree 3423/2000, of 15 December, regulating the display of prices for products offered to consumers and users.
- Royal Decree 1334/1999, of 31 July, approving the general regulations for labelling, presenting and advertising food products.
- Royal Decree 1468/1988, of 2 December, approving the regulations for labelling, presenting and advertising industrial products intended for direct sale to consumers and users.
- Framework Act 15/1999, of 13 December, on personal data protection.
- Act 31/1995, of 8 November on occupational risk prevention.
- Act 16/2009, of 13 November, on payment services.
