Stone Processing

A craft trade for the masonry processing of natural and artificial stone and the production of stonework products (monuments, paving, cladding, stone elements). It requires a professional qualification under Sections 21 and 22 of the Trade Licensing Act, and the licence arises on the day of notification.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Sections 6 to 8: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record (Section 6); medical fitness and liability insurance are not required. It is separately verified whether obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 have arisen (in particular a ban on activity in the field or ongoing insolvency/bankruptcy).

Professional qualification under Section 21 - any of the following documents is sufficient:
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field;
- secondary education with a maturita examination in the relevant field;
- higher professional education in the relevant field;
- university education in the relevant area;
- a document on recognition of professional qualification;
- a document on verification or recognition of a full qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

Substitute qualification under Section 22 - where both education and experience are documented:
- an apprenticeship certificate in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field;
- a maturita examination in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field;
- higher professional education in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field;
- university education in a related area + 1 year of experience in the field;
- a retraining certificate + 1 year of experience in the field;
- 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

The professional qualification can also be met through a responsible representative under Section 11.

Examples of activities

manufacture and installation of monuments and gravestones
manufacture of stone paving, cladding and window sills
working of natural stone (cutting, grinding, polishing)
manufacture of stone kitchen worktops and work surfaces
stone elements and decorations for buildings and gardens
restoration and repair of stone products (excluding the restoration of cultural monuments)
manufacture of stone steps and plinths
making fountains and sculptural stone elements to order

What the trade is and what it is for

The Stone Processing trade is a craft trade (Annex No. 1 to the Trade Licensing Act, part A) which covers the masonry processing of natural and artificial stone and the production of stonework products. This trade includes the cutting, grinding, polishing, dressing and installation of stone and the making of finished products from it - from monuments through paving and cladding to kitchen worktops and decorative building elements.

It is a traditional masonry craft. Because it may affect the safety and quality of the work, the law classes this activity among craft trades and requires documentation of professional qualification. The licence authorises business throughout the Czech Republic.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The Stone Processing trade covers in particular:

manufacture and installation of monuments and gravestones;
manufacture of stone paving, cladding, window sills and plinths;
working of stone - cutting, grinding, polishing, dressing;
manufacture of stone work surfaces (kitchen worktops, washbasin tops);
making stone steps, fountains, water features and decorative elements for buildings and gardens.

Boundaries with neighbouring activities: The mere treatment of mined aggregate (e.g. crushing or sorting of minerals) falls under the unqualified (free) trade Treatment of minerals, extraction of peat and mud, not here. Work with glass (cutting, etching) belongs to the separate craft trade Glass Cutting and Etching. The restoration of stone cultural monuments is regulated separately by the Act on State Heritage Preservation and requires a permit from the Ministry of Culture - however, ordinary stone processing outside heritage protection is covered by this trade. In case of doubt about the classification of a specific activity, contact the Trade Licensing Office.

Conditions for obtaining the trade under the law

To obtain the trade licence, you must meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record (Section 6). The law does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade. It is separately verified whether there are obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 on your side - in particular whether you have been imposed a ban on activity in the field or whether insolvency (bankruptcy) proceedings are under way.

Furthermore, you must demonstrate your professional qualification under Section 21. Any of the following documents is sufficient: secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field, secondary education with a maturita examination in the relevant field, higher professional education in the relevant field, university education in the relevant area, a document on recognition of professional qualification, or a document on verification or recognition of a full qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not have these documents, you can demonstrate the qualification as a substitute under Section 22:

an apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher professional education or university degree in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field;
a retraining certificate + 1 year of experience in the field;
6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

You do not have to hold the professional qualification personally - you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the qualification conditions and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may perform the function of responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Complete the Unified Registration Form (URF). It allows you to notify the trade and at the same time carry out registrations with the tax office, the social security administration and the health insurance company.
Submit the notification. You may submit it at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the portal rzp.gov.cz, or through a Czech POINT contact point.
Submit the documents on professional qualification and identity and pay the administrative fee.
Wait for the entry. The Trade Licensing Office makes the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of receiving the notification.

The right to operate the trade arises already on the day of notification (provided the conditions are met), not only upon entry. You can find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

The relevant authority

You submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, which makes the entry in the Trade Register. The central administrative authority for the area of trade licensing is the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Na Frantisku 32, 110 15 Prague 1 - Stare Mesto). Any appeal against a decision of the Trade Licensing Office is decided, within the instance procedure, by the superior authority; the supreme appellate authority in this area is the Minister of Industry and Trade.

Documents and fees

Proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (apprenticeship certificate, maturita certificate, diploma, retraining certificate or proof of experience).
Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
Where applicable, documents for the responsible representative (Section 11), if you appoint one.
An administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for the trade notification, or CZK 800 for electronic submission via rzp.gov.cz.
Deadline for entry: within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Is a stonemason's apprenticeship certificate enough?

Yes. Secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant (masonry) field is a full proof of professional qualification under Section 21, and you do not need any additional experience for it.

I do not have education in the field, but I have done masonry for years. Can I obtain the trade?

Yes. Under Section 22, the qualification can be demonstrated even by 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education. The experience must be credibly documented (e.g. by an employer's confirmation).

Do I have to hold the professional education personally?

Not necessarily. The professional qualification can be met by your responsible representative under Section 11. You then only have to meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8.

How much will I pay and how quickly will I get the trade?

The administrative fee is CZK 1,000 (paper), or CZK 800 for electronic submission. The Trade Licensing Office enters the trade within 5 working days, but the licence arises already on the day of notification.

Do I need a separate permit to cut and polish stone slabs?

No. The cutting, grinding and polishing of stone and the production of stone slabs fall directly under this craft trade. A separate permit would be needed only for the restoration of stone cultural monuments (the Act on Heritage Preservation).