Permit issuance by the Environmental Monitoring Agency

Operating permit or registration?

What activities require an operating permit and what needs to be registered?

Operating permits

• Businesses that may cause pollution as outlined in Appendix IV of Act No. 7/1998 on Hygiene and Pollution Prevention and Appendix X of Regulation 550/2018 on Industrial Emissions and Pollution Control
• Businesses and institutions providing public services under Act No. 7/1998 on Hygiene and Pollution Prevention and Regulation No. 903/2024 on Hygiene

Registration

• Business activities that may cause pollution according to the appendix of Regulation No. 830/2022 on Businesses Subject to Professional Registration under the Act on Hygiene and Pollution Prevention. Such activities must be registered at www.island.is before operations begin. Reykjavík's Public Health Authority confirms these registrations.

Before you apply

Business operators must apply for an operating permit from the Reykjavík Public Health Authority or register their business on island.is before operations begin. Before applying for an operating permit or registration, applicants must obtain confirmation from the Building Commissioner that their premises and operations comply with planning requirements and building regulations.

• Apply for Building Commissioner confirmation
• Apply for an operating permit
• Register an operation

What is the process?

Processing begins once Reykjavík Public Health receives a complete application for an operating permit or registration from the operator, including all required supporting documents and the Building Commissioner's confirmation. Please note that application processing will not begin until Reykjavík Public Health has received all required documentation.

The permit process includes an on-site inspection of the applicant's facility to evaluate operations, premises, equipment and other relevant factors.

After the public notice period (when applicable), the application is submitted to Reykjavík Public Health's permit review meeting for final decision. Permit Review Meetings are held weekly on Thursdays.

Advertisements

Draft operating permits issued by Reykjavík Public Health must be publicly advertised for four weeks, as required by Regulation No. 550/2018 on Industrial Emissions and Pollution Control and Regulation No. 903/2024 on Hygiene.

• Advertisements for polluting activities
• Advertisements for hygiene-regulated businesses

Advertisements are posted on the Reykjavík Public Health website. During this review period, anyone may submit substantive comments regarding the proposal to heilbrigdiseftirlit@reykjavik.is.

How can I get an operating permit or confirmation for a registration?

The public health authority sends a notification of permit approval with an invoice for the permit. A operating permit comes into effect and a registration is confirmed once the invoice has been paid. The permit letter is sent to the permit holder. It is prohibited to start work that requires a permit/registration before the operating permit/confirmation comes into effect.

Exemption

The Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate may grant exemptions from specific regulatory provisions according to Article 41 of Act No. 7/1998 and Article 12 of Regulation No. 903/2024 on Hygiene, potentially after receiving an official statement from the public health committee and the Environment and Energy Agency.

• Issued exemptions

Temporary permit

According to Article 7.a. of Act No. 7/1998, the Environment and Energy Agency may grant temporary authorization at an operator's request in exceptional circumstances when there is an urgent need to begin or continue operations. The Environment Agency shall, as applicable, seek an official statement from the relevant Public Health Committee and other parties as appropriate.

To request a temporary permit, a satisfactory application must be submitted to the issuer of the operating permit.

More information about the application, advertising, and processing deadlines can be found in the article.

• Issued temporary permits

Sanitation control certificate

The Environmental Monitoring Agency issues sanitation control certificates/exemptions for ships according to the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations. All ships engaged in international voyages require such a certificate, which is valid for a maximum of six months.

Applicants are advised to contact the Public Health Authority to request a ship inspection and certificate. A certificate fee and a variable inspection fee based on the scope of the inspection must be paid.