On January 15, President Klaus Iohannis promulgated the Law requiring owners of clubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, guesthouses, theaters, and other public units that do not yet have fire safety authorization to mount a panel at the door warning customers, before entering, that the space operates without authorization.
The warning panels will have the following content printed in capital letters with a minimum size of 2.5 cm, in red, on a white background: “This space operates without fire safety authorization”.
The text is mandatory; otherwise, owners risk substantial fines ranging between 2,501-5,000 RON.
For owners who have obtained the permit, the obligation to announce the authorization, initially provided in the project, was removed.
Deputies also removed the obligation for a series of technical constructions that were initially included in the law, such as production or storage spaces, agro-zootechnical constructions, water supply networks, and other such categories.
Following the fire at the Bucharest club Colectiv, the Ponta Government introduced, through an emergency ordinance, the obligation for owners of clubs, bars, restaurants, and other public units to obtain a fire safety authorization. The authorization had to be obtained by December 31, 2016, for constructions and facilities that were put into operation without this administrative act. Subsequently, citing the lack of specialized personnel required to issue the authorizations, the Cioloș Government extended the deadline for obtaining the fire safety authorization until June 30, 2017.
The deadline was pushed slightly further so that only starting from October 1, 2017, beneficiaries or owners of constructions who have the obligation to obtain this administrative act are liable for contraventional sanctions for not holding it.
Putting into operation, without fire safety authorization, new constructions and facilities or existing ones where modification/change of destination works have been carried out can be sanctioned with fines between 20,000 RON and 50,000 RON.
The law currently provides that companies that submitted the documentation for obtaining the authorization by September 30 or have projects under approval for financing are exempt from the application of fines, provided the compliance deadline does not exceed December 31, 2017.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a venue lacks fire safety authorization?
Owners must display a visible red-on-white sign at the entrance stating the venue operates without fire safety authorization, or face fines up to 5,000 RON.
Which businesses are affected by this law?
The law applies to public venues such as clubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, guesthouses, and theaters.
What are the penalties for operating without the actual permit?
Operating without the required fire safety authorization can result in significant fines ranging from 20,000 RON to 50,000 RON.