Project activity in construction
Field of activity No. 7 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Specific expertise set by law (education, experience, certification).
- Vázaná živnost
- Field No. 7
- See conditions below
- 8 activity examples
A regulated trade (field no. 7) authorising the preparation of project documentation for structures. It requires professional qualification under Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act, usually CKAIT/CKA authorisation or corresponding education in construction or architecture together with practice in designing structures.
Professional qualification (Annex 2; conditions governed by Sections 6 to 8 and Section 24 of the Trade Licensing Act) – it is sufficient to meet one of the variants:
1) authorisation or entry in the list of registered persons under Act No. 360/1992 Coll., on the practice of the profession of authorised architects and on the practice of the profession of authorised engineers and technicians active in construction (CKA/CKAIT) – with no requirement of further practice.
2) university education in a master's study programme and field of study focused on construction or architecture + 3 years of practice in designing structures.
3) university education in a bachelor's study programme and field of study focused on construction or architecture + 5 years of practice in designing structures.
4) higher professional education in a field of study focused on construction + 5 years of practice in designing structures.
5) secondary education with a school-leaving examination (maturita) in a field of study focused on construction + 5 years of practice in designing structures.
The qualification may also be met through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act.
The trade licence arises on the day of notification. Medical fitness is not required. The Trade Licensing Act does not require liability insurance (mandatory insurance may follow from authorisation under Act No. 360/1992 Coll.).
Examples of activities
- preparation of project documentation for building structures
- design of new detached and apartment houses
- preparation of documentation for planning proceedings and a building permit
- design of changes to completed structures (extensions, additional storeys, reconstructions)
- preparation of documentation for carrying out the works and as-built documentation
- design of engineering structures and transport structures
- preparation of structural and design calculations and assessments
- coordination and preparation of summary project documentation for a structure
What the trade is and what it is for
Project activity in construction is a regulated trade (Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act, field no. 7). It authorises you to prepare project documentation for structures and their changes – that is, to design structures and prepare the documentation needed for planning and building proceedings as well as for the actual realisation. It is one of the key trades in construction and architecture, where the Act insists on evidencing qualification, because the quality of a design directly affects the safety and durability of structures as well as people's health and property.
The licence will be used by designers of building and engineering structures, civil engineers, architects and smaller design offices. The regulated trade must always be distinguished from reserved (authorised) activities, which under Act No. 360/1992 Coll. may be performed only by an authorised person entered in the Czech Chamber of Authorised Engineers and Technicians active in Construction (CKAIT) or in the Czech Chamber of Architects (CKA).
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
Project activity in construction covers in particular:
- preparation of project documentation for building, engineering and transport structures,
- documentation for planning proceedings, for the issue of a building permit and for carrying out the works,
- design of new buildings, extensions, additional storeys and reconstructions,
- structural and design calculations and assessments as part of a design,
- coordination and preparation of summary (coordinated) project documentation.
Where the boundaries lie. The actual carrying out (realisation) of structures, their changes and demolition is a separate regulated trade (field no. 8), not project activity. Some acts in the preparation and carrying out of structures (e.g. an authorised design, the building owner's technical supervision, author's supervision) are selected activities in construction and may be performed only by authorised persons under Act No. 360/1992 Coll. A trade licence on its own is not sufficient to perform these reserved activities – if you intend to perform them, you need authorisation. If you are unsure how to classify a specific activity, verify it with your Trade Licensing Office or with the relevant chamber (CKAIT, CKA).
Statutory conditions for obtaining it
You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. For a Czech citizen, the office verifies the clean criminal record itself from an extract from the Criminal Records.
Because this is a regulated trade, you additionally evidence professional qualification, which is set out directly in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (the conditions are governed by Sections 6 to 8 and Section 24 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). This qualification cannot be replaced merely by general practice as in a craft trade – you must meet one of the following variants:
- authorisation or entry in the list of registered persons under Act No. 360/1992 Coll. (CKAIT/CKA) – in this case no further practice is required, or
- university master's education in a field focused on construction or architecture and 3 years of practice in designing structures, or
- university bachelor's education in a field focused on construction or architecture and 5 years of practice in designing structures, or
- higher professional education in a field focused on construction and 5 years of practice in designing structures, or
- secondary education with a school-leaving examination (maturita) in a field focused on construction and 5 years of practice in designing structures.
Responsible representative (Section 11). If you do not meet the professional qualification yourself, or if a legal entity carries on the business, the trade may be operated through a responsible representative – a natural person in a contractual relationship who meets the general and professional conditions on your behalf. One person may act as a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.
How to notify or obtain the trade step by step
- Prepare the documents – proof of identity, proof of professional qualification (authorisation/entry or education and practice) and proof of the legal title to use the registered office.
- Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF). With it you will also arrange registration for income tax, notification to the social security administration and to the health insurance company.
- Submit the notification – in person at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or via a Czech POINT contact point.
- Pay the administrative fee – CZK 1,000 for notifying the trade, or CZK 800 for electronic submission via rzp.gov.cz.
- Start trading. The trade licence arises already on the day of notification; the Trade Licensing Office usually issues the extract from the Trade Register within 5 working days of the day a flawless notification is delivered.
You will find the detailed universal procedure in the guide How to start a trade.
Documents and fees
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
- Proof of professional qualification – authorisation or entry under Act No. 360/1992 Coll., or proof of education and the required practice in designing structures.
- Proof of registered office (consent of the property owner).
- Where applicable, a declaration of the responsible representative, if you evidence the qualification through them.
- Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 (notification in person) / CZK 800 (electronically via rzp.gov.cz).
- Time limit: entry and extract usually within 5 working days.
Where to submit the notification
The central administrative authority for trade licensing is the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Na Františku 32, 110 15 Prague 1 – Staré Město. However, you submit the trade notification itself at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, or electronically via rzp.gov.cz or via Czech POINT.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need CKAIT or CKA authorisation?
Not necessarily for the trade itself – the qualification can also be evidenced by corresponding education in construction or architecture and practice in designing (3 to 5 years depending on the level of education). However, authorisation is essential for performing reserved (selected) activities in construction, for example for the preparation and verification of project documentation by an authorised person.
Is the maturita in a construction field enough for me?
Yes, provided you also evidence 5 years of practice in designing structures. For higher professional education in construction, 5 years of practice likewise applies; for university bachelor's study it is 5 years and for the master's study 3 years.
Can I also carry out structures under this trade?
No. The realisation of structures falls under the separate regulated trade “Construction, alteration and demolition of structures” (field no. 8). To carry out structures you need this further licence.
Is medical fitness or liability insurance required?
The Trade Licensing Act does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade. However, mandatory professional insurance may follow for you from authorisation under Act No. 360/1992 Coll.
When can I start trading and how much does it cost?
The licence arises on the day of notification. The fee is CZK 1,000 in person, or CZK 800 electronically via rzp.gov.cz; you will usually receive the extract within 5 working days.