Applying for a permit for the non-commercial acquisition and handling of explosive substances

As a private individual, would you like to deal with explosive substances such as black powder, nitrocellulose powder or fireworks? Then you must observe the Explosives Act (SprengG) and need an official permit from the responsible authority!

Anyone who wants to handle explosive substances in the non-commercial, i.e. in the private sector, requires a permit under the Explosives Act.

Activities related to explosive substances have a high risk potential. The aim of the Explosives Act is to protect people and property from these dangers.

In order to avoid accidents and misuse, explosives law places high demands on the suitability, reliability and expertise of persons who want to handle explosive substances. Within the scope of reliability, information is obtained from other authorities, e.g. the police and the Federal Central Register.

If you are a private individual, with the following explosive substances

• black powder for muzzle-loading shooting,
• firecracker powder for firecracker shooting,
• nitrocellulose powder for reloading cartridge cases,
• rocket motors in model rocket construction of category P2,
• fireworks of categories F3 and F4, and
• Fireworks according to § 20 Abs. 4 of the First Ordinance to the Explosives Act of category F2

or want to acquire it, then you need a permit according to § 27 SprengG (colloquially also called powder certificate, firecracker certificate or fireworks license)!

The official permit ensures that only those persons who meet the requirements for safe handling have access to explosive substances.

The districts and independent cities are responsible for providing detailed information as well as for processing and issuing corresponding permits.

You can also complete the procedure electronically via the Point of Single Contact.

• Completed application form for the granting of a permit according to § 27 Explosives Act
• Valid identity card or passport
• Certificate of competence (proof of successfully completed specialist training course for the planned activity; not applicable for category F3 fireworks)
• Proof of the need to handle explosive substances (not applicable if permission to handle pyrotechnic articles)
• Proof of liability insurance for handling fireworks of categories F3 and F4
• Description of the intended storage (e.g. technical documentation, photo credits)
• Permits that have already been issued, if applicable
• To check the good repute of persons from abroad: You need a certificate in certified translation from the competent judicial or administrative authority of your country of origin or foreign national from certain facts that are relevant for the assessment of your good repute (e.g. extract from the criminal record).

• Form name: Varies depending on the competent authority
• If applicable, link to the aforementioned form:
• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: Depending on the respective competent authority

In order to obtain permission to handle explosive substances, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be at least 21 years of age to handle black powder, nitrocellulose powder and other propellant powder. Exceptions are possible in individual cases.
• You must be at least 21 years of age to handle category F4 fireworks and category P2 pyrotechnic articles (e.g. rocket engines).
• You must be at least 18 years of age to handle category F2 or F3 fireworks.
• You must have expertise. The specialist knowledge is proven by a certificate, which certifies the successful participation in a state or state-recognized course (not applicable for pyrotechnics category F3).
• They must be reliable. The required reliability is usually given if you have been law-abiding and have no criminal record.
• They must be personally suitable. You are personally suitable if you have no restrictions, e.g. in mental and physical health or due to drug or alcohol dependence.
• They must be able to prove a need. The proof is target-group-specific; For example, hunters must submit their hunting license, sports shooters and firecrackers a certificate of their membership and participation in shooting and traditional shooting associations. (Not applicable if permission to handle fireworks or other pyrotechnic objects such as rocket motors).
• If they wish to store explosive substances, they must have suitable storage rooms.

Before you are allowed to handle explosive substances as a non-professional user, you must have been granted a permit in accordance with the Explosives Act.

• Application via an online procedure or a written procedure (except for electronic processing and the possibility of identifying oneself in advance, the two procedures are identical)
• filling in the forms,
• Adding the required documents and evidence,
• Re-examination of the application documents,
• send or print out the application electronically and submit it to the Authority,
• The authority will contact you at your request for consultation or inquiries and corrections,
• If necessary, the authority will make an appointment with you for an interview in order to determine the required personal suitability,

After examining the documents, you will receive a notification of the decision and a fee notice with a request for payment.

Deadlines for subsequent submissions/responses shall be set by the competent authority.

If you already have a permit, you must submit the application for renewal in good time before the expiry of the time limit; it is recommended to apply for the extension 2 – 3 months before the expiry of the validity period.

Where an application for the grant requires verification of personal suitability and reliability for admission to a specialist training course, the competent authority may dispense with a re-examination if the clearance certificate for participation in the specialist training course was issued not more than one year ago.

The amount of the fee shall be determined by the competent authority. The calculation is usually based on effort and benefit on the basis of a cost framework.

Fees in Hesse:

• Granting of a permit 70 – 250 euros,
• Extension of a permit 50 - 205 euros,
• Change of permit 55 – 205 euros.