Retail Food Facilities and Restaurants

A Retail Food Facility License in Pennsylvania is required for restaurants, grocery stores, and other food vendors before they can serve food to customers. Here, you can learn how to apply, what documents you need, and the steps to ensure your facility meets safety standards.

Retail Food Facility Licenses are issued to:

• Restaurants
• Bars
• Clubs
• Food Auctions
• Grocery Stores
• Convenient Store
• Beer Distributors
• Schools
• Caterers
• 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.

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.

Where to submit applications

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

Processing information

• Do not send money with this application
• Allow 4-6 weeks for processing

• 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.

Application status

Once you submit your application, it will take 4-6 weeks for us to process your application. Your application will either be approved or not approved. You will have to take additional steps once your application is approved or not approved.

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.