As a retailer in Norway, it's important to stay informed about the regulated operating hours set by both the Norwegian government and local authorities. The retail operating hours determine when you can open and close your shop and how long you can stay open on different days of the week and on public holidays.
Retail operating hours in Norway
Public
Norway
Author: Kristina Dosen
Category:
Fiscal subject related
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10567
Content accuracy validation date:
12.12.2023
Content accuracy validation time:
07:56h
Here are some of the main things you should know about the retail operating hours in Norway:
- On weekdays, you can generally open your shop from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but you may choose to open earlier or close later, depending on your type of business and your customer demand. For example, if you run a supermarket, you may open at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. or 10 p.m.
- On Saturdays, you can generally open your shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., but you may choose to close earlier or later, depending on your type of business and your customer demand. For example, if you run a supermarket, you may open at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m.You may also shorten your opening hours on Saturdays, until 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., to reduce your costs or to give your staff a break.
- On Sundays, you must generally close your shop, unless you have special permission from the local authorities or you fall under an exemption. Only shops with a sales area of less than 100 square meters are allowed to open on Sundays, and only for a maximum of six hours. For example, if you run a small grocery store, you may open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. You may also open your shop on Sundays if you sell certain goods, such as flowers, plants, newspapers, or souvenirs, or if you are located in a tourist area or a transport hub.
- On public holidays, you must generally close your shop unless you have special permission from the local authorities or you fall under an exemption. Public holidays in Norway include New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. You may also close your shop early on the day before a public holiday, to prepare for the holiday or to give your staff a break.
The retail operating hours in Norway may vary depending on the location, season, and type of business. You should also display your opening hours clearly and visibly on your shop window or door and on your website or social media pages, if you have any. You should also update your opening hours whenever there is a change in regulations or customer demand.
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