Virtual SME Office - FAQ

This is where you will find our answers...

...to frequently asked questions on the following topics:

• Address research
• Building application
• Company information signs, billboards
• Forms
• Restaurant
• Business registration
• Land, land areas
• Land values, indicative land values
• Kiosk
• Motor vehicle
• Loading zones
• Market stand
• Parking permit
• Event halls
• Sale of goods and food in public street areas
• Billboards, advertising systems and/or company information signs
• Weekly markets
• Residential space / Change in usage
• Misappropriation

Address research: Where can I get the contact details of other companies?

• Düsseldorf Office of Economic Development (German) provides information about the most important industries in Düsseldorf.
  
  
• Architects can be found in the 'Architects List' of the Chamber of Architects of North-Rhine Westphalia (German).
  
  
• On the website of Düsseldorf Chamber of Small Industries and Skilled Trades (HWK) (German) you can search according to skilled trade companies in the administrative district of Düsseldorf.
  
  
• Information about companies and on many other topics is provided by the Service Centre of Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) (German).
  
  
• This is where you can find the online company directory for the media port (German).
  
  
• The most important online telephone directories (German).
  
  
• Addresses of the telecommunication network suppliers in Düsseldorf are available as a PDF file | German (87,7 KB).
  

Building application: How and where do I file a building application?

• You can file a building application with the building supervision (German).
  
  
• More detailed information on this topic can be found on the site (German) of the state capital Düsseldorf.
  

Company information signs/billboards: Which legal requirements need to be met in order to install company information signs, billboards and/or advertising systems in public areas and/or on the company's own land/own company building?

• Billboards and information signs up to 1 sqm in size do not require approval. However, certain restrictions (German) are to be observed here.
  
  
• If you have any questions regarding advertising systems, please contact the building supervision department (German).
  
  
• Special usage in public street areas requires approval. A corresponding application can be filed with the public order department (German).
  
  
• The department for the preservation of historical buildings (German) gives recommendations how advertising can be integrated harmoniously into the cityscape.
  

Forms: Where do I find forms of the municipal administration?

• There is a separate Page on this site for forms that concern trade and companies.
  
  

Restaurant: Which legal requirements need to be met in order to establish a restaurant?

• Information can be found on the page of the public order department (German).
  

Business registration: Where and in which form can I register a business?

• A business can be registered with the public order department (German).
  

Land, land areas: Where do I find land/land areas/offices for my business?

• If you are looking for facilities or land for your company, the real estate service of the Düsseldorf Office of Economic Development (German) can help you further.
  

Land values, indicative land values: Where do I get information about land values, indicative land values and land assessments?

• The expert committee for land values (German) is responsible for determining values.
  
  
• The exact tasks of the committee are described on the page of the land surveying and land registry department (German).
  
  
• The North Rhine-Westphalia expert committees for land values jointly operate the indicative land value information system (German).
  

Kiosk: Which legal requirements need to be met to set up a kiosk?

• If you would like to register a business, please contact the public order department (German).
  

Motor vehicle: Where and how can I get a motor vehicle registered?

• The registration office of the road traffic licensing department (German) is responsible for the initial registration, transfer registration and deregistration of motor vehicles.
  

Loading zones: Which legal requirements need to be met to set up loading zones?

• Special permits for road traffic can be applied for from the traffic management department (German).
  

Market stand: How can I get a market stand on a weekly market?

• If you want to operate a market stand on a weekly market, please contact the market administration (German).
  

Parking permit: Which legal requirements need to be met to acquire a parking permit?

• Parking permits are issued by the traffic management department (German).
  

Event halls: Where do I find event halls and rooms for larger events?

• An overview of facilities for larger events can be found on the website of the cultural department (German).
  
  
• The „Congress Guide” Download PDF file | German (2,49 MB) of Düsseldorf Marketing und Tourismus GmbH with conference venues and services is also available online.
  

Sale of goods and food in public street areas: Which requirements need to be met to carry out mobile trading of food and goods in public street areas?

• Street trading is subject to approval. An application can be made online or in writing to the public order department (German).
  

Billboards, advertising systems and/or company information signs: Which legal requirements need to be met in order to install billboards, advertising systems and/or company information signs?

• Billboards and information signs up to 1 sqm in size do not require approval. However, certain restrictions are to be observed here (German).
  
  
• If you have any questions regarding advertising systems, please contact the building supervision department (German).
  
  Special usage in public street areas requires approval. A corresponding application can be filed with the public order department (German).
  
  
• The department for the preservation of historical buildings (German) gives recommendations how advertising can be integrated harmoniously into the cityscape.

Weekly markets: Where are there weekly markets in Düsseldorf?

• The Aconsumer protection department (German)has an overview of the weekly markets in Düsseldorf.
  

Residential space / Change in usage: Which legal requirements need to be met if I intend to change the usage of residential space?

• In North Rhine-Westphalia, rented residential space may only be terminated or converted when an appropriate approval under building law exists. Details on this can be found on the website of the housing department (German).
  

Misappropriation: What needs to be observed when residential space is to be misappropriated for commercial usage?

• The ban on misappropriation of residential space expired on 31.12.2006. Further information can be found on the housing department (German) page.