Retail Food Facilities & Restaurants
Retail Food Facility Licenses are issued to:
- Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Food Auctions, Grocery Stores, Convenient Store, Beer Distributors, Schools, Caterers and similar public food facilities where food is sold or served directly to a consumer from a physical location or facility.
- All retailers are required to obtain a Retail Food Facility License PRIOR to operating a Retail Food Facility. This includes new facilities and change of ownerships for existing businesses. Licenses are non-transferable to another proprietor, new facility or location.
How to Apply:
All NEW Applicants
- Download and/or print, the Application Packet – Retail Food Facilities and Restaurants under FORMS on the right hand side of this page.
Change of Ownership
- New owners MUST submit "Application Packet- CHANGE OF OWNER."
Remodeling
- Currently licensed facilities MUST submit "Application Packet- Retail Food Facility- REMODEL" to the Department prior to any remodeling or significant changes to the service, equipment, or facilities. There is no fee for the plan review application process.
- New owners who are also remodeling MUST submit BOTH applications listed above.
All material must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the preparation/sale of food from a retail food facility. Failure to provide all required information can delay and/or deny your plan review. Email is the preferred method of plan review submission.
Submit completed applications and requested documentation to:
or mail / fax to:
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services
Attn: Plan Review
2301 N. Cameron St, Room 112
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Fax: 717-787-1873
- If your county is under a County Health Department Jurisdiction, you should contact them directly for licensing. These counties include Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
- Do not send money with this application
- Allow 4-6 weeks for processing
If Approved:
- You will receive an approval letter via email or mail
- An inspector will schedule an on-site inspection of the facility
- Upon a compliant inspection, your license fee will be collected, and a Retail Food Facility License issued
If not Approved:
- You will be sent a letter describing why the plans were not approved. Applicants are encouraged to re-submit the plans again with the corrected or requested information.
If inspection is not passed:
- You will be provided with an inspection report stating your deficiencies. When deficiencies are corrected, you can contact your inspector to request another inspection.
- Renewal of Licenses – Renewal of licenses occurs annually with notification to proprietors approximately 45 days prior to the current expiration date. Renewals can also be processed online with a user account and unique business code. If you do not receive a renewal application or know your business code, contact the department at 717-787-4315.
- Lost/Duplicate License – Contact the department at 717-787-4315.
Fees
NEW retail food facility |
$241 |
NEW under 50 seats AND owner operated |
$103 |
Change of ownership |
$82 |
Annual renewals |
$82 |
Courtesy inspections |
$150 |
2nd follow-up inspection |
$150 |
3rd follow-up inspection |
$300 |
Duplicate license fee |
$14 |
Make checks payable to “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” |
Contact
Publications
Service Animals Allowed (PDF)
Forms
Application Packet- Retail Food Facilities and Restaurants (PDF)
Application Packet- Retail Food Facility- CHANGE OF OWNER (PDF)
Application Packet- Retail Food Facility- REMODEL (PDF)
Shared Facility Agreement (PDF)