What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Bucks County?

Temporary Food Facility License

A restaurant, coffee shop or food truck selling food at a short-term event in Bucks County needs a Temporary Food Facility license from BCDH for each event of up to 14 days, priced under the current ADM-71 fee schedule at $65 for a non-profit operator and $180 for a for-profit operator, with a $50 late fee if the application is filed fewer than 3 business days before the event. This is separate from the Seasonal Mobile Stand and Farmers'/Flea Market Stand licenses listed elsewhere here, which cover an ongoing seasonal or market presence rather than a single short-run event.

Certified Food Safety Manager (CFSM) Certificate

A restaurant, coffee shop or food truck in Bucks County needs at least one Certified Food Safety Manager on staff, and BCDH issues its own CFSM certificate for $80 under the current ADM-71 fee schedule, valid for 5 years, with a $20 fee for a duplicate certificate. This is a personal certification tied to an individual employee rather than the business's food facility license, and is required in addition to that license, not instead of it.

Food Facility Plan Review

Before a new food facility opens in Bucks County, or an existing one is remodeled or changes ownership, BCDH reviews the plans for a one-time fee under the current ADM-71 fee schedule: $335 for a general for-profit facility, $225 for a new-construction mobile food vehicle, $50 for a change of ownership, partial remodel, or existing mobile unit (or any non-profit facility), and $1,200 for a facility over 10,000 square feet. This plan-review fee is charged in addition to, not instead of, the annual or per-event license fee listed separately here for the facility type involved.

Shared with other businesses in Bucks County

• Weights & Measures Commercial Device License/Permit — Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection, Weights & Measures, Bucks County Ordinance No. 165 §4 states that 'Annual license/permit fees shall be specified by resolution and adjusted from time to time as necessary by the County, in consultation with the Department.' The ordinance itself sets no dollar figure; a separate Board of Commissioners resolution does, and that resolution's amount is not published on the Weights & Measures program's web pages, its current Device Inventory Form, or its consumer-education materials., annual, per device. Also required for retail stores, auto repair shops, coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
• Retail Food Facility License (Yearly) — Bucks County Department of Health, $115–$1,200 annual, by facility type/size — non-profit or school cafeteria/kitchen $115; take-out with no seating $345; microbrewery/winery/distillery with no food prep $345; under 50 seats $365; 50+ seats (including private/commercial schools with food service) $545; licensed in conjunction with a PA liquor license $545; caterer/commissary $545; over 10,000 sq ft $1,200; duplicate license $20, annual, calendar-year (January 1 through December 31); not transferable. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Private/Residential Well Construction & Certification Permit — Bucks County Department of Health, $10–$435 well certification (3 field inspections) $420, each additional inspection $270; abandonment, hydrofracturing, pitless adaptor, monitoring well, casing extension or deepening $280; geothermal well (up to 3 holes) $435, each additional 3-hole increment $330; permit transfer $130; bacteriological water analysis $25, replacement sample bottle $10, per permit; well certification and other well actions are billed separately. Also required for retail stores, childcare centres, fitness studios, veterinary clinics, auto repair shops and contractors and trades; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Retail Food Facility License — Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, $82–$241 new license, renewal or change of ownership, risk-based — 24, 18, 12 or 6 months, renewed annually. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Employee Certification — Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, No fee, set by the accredited certifying programme, not by the Commonwealth. Also required for coffee shops, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.