Mandatory Signage to Open a Bar or Restaurant in the Canary Islands

To open a bar or restaurant in the Canary Islands you need, as a minimum, three types of signage visible to the public: the official tourist distintivo plaque for your category (for example CN22 for restaurants or CN23 for bars and cafés), a notice announcing that you hold complaint forms (hojas de reclamaciones), and the no-smoking sign. Beyond that, there is other recommended signage, such as maximum capacity or allergens, which is worth checking with your town hall and the health authority before you open.

The tourist distintivo plaque: CN22 or CN23 depending on your business

Catering establishments in the Canary Islands must display, next to the entrance and somewhere visible, the official distintivo plaque that matches their category, in the format set out by Decreto 50/2011 for the whole of the Canarian catering sector. A restaurant carries the CN22 restaurant plaque; a bar or café carries the CN23 bar-café plaque. If you’re unsure which category applies to your premises, check your registration in the Registro General Turístico de Canarias before ordering the plaque.

Complaint forms: the notice is compulsory, not just the forms

Canarian tourism regulations require every catering establishment to hold complaint forms (hojas de reclamaciones) to the official model, available to any customer who asks for one. But as well as holding the forms, it’s compulsory to display a notice somewhere visible in the premises informing customers that complaint forms are available. It’s not enough to keep them behind the counter: the customer has to be able to see they exist without having to ask.

No smoking

The no-smoking sign is compulsory in all hospitality premises, under Ley 28/2005 on health measures against smoking, which applies across the whole of Spain, the Canary Islands included.

Capacity, allergens and other recommended signage

Many premises also display a sign showing maximum capacity, useful both for customers and in the event of any complaint about access to the premises. Information on allergens in menu dishes is another obligation affecting all Spanish hospitality businesses under European food information regulations, and is usually handled with a symbol or note on the menu itself plus a sign or reference document available if the customer asks. As this is an area that changes over time and depends on the type of establishment, we recommend confirming the specific details with your town hall or the Consejería de Sanidad (regional health department) before opening, as well as checking with them for any additional requirement specific to your municipality.

How we handle it at Publink

We make the official distintivo plaque for your category in materials suitable for outdoor use, ready to fit beside the door, and we design and print the rest of your indoor signage: no smoking, complaint forms and capacity, matched to your premises’ image. If you also need a menu, see our restaurant menus service, and if you’re after a shopfront sign or window vinyls, take a look at signage in Gran Canaria.

Frequently asked questions

Which plaque do I need, CN22 or CN23?

It depends on the category your business is registered under: CN22 applies to restaurants and CN23 to bars and cafés. Check your registration in the Registro General Turístico de Canarias if you’re unsure which applies to you.

Is it enough to have complaint forms, or do I also have to announce them?

You have to announce them: as well as holding forms to the official model, a visible notice informing the customer that complaint forms are available to them is compulsory.

Where do I get the distintivo plaque and the compulsory signs?

We make and print both at Publink: the official distintivo plaque for your category and the indoor signs for your premises, coordinated with your menu and your sign if you order those with us too.