What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Chester County Pa?

Food Facility Plan Review

Before a new food facility opens in Chester County, or an existing one adds a commissary or changes ownership, CCHD reviews its plans for a one-time fee: $300 for a food facility plan review, $500 for a facility of more than 10,000 square feet, $100 for a commissary added to an existing facility, and $60 for a change of ownership, turn-key operation or added license to a shared space with no changes. Operating without plan review carries a $240 fee, and a phased opening inspection is $200. These charges are in addition to the annual food facility license. These amounts come from the CCHD Bureau of Environmental Health Protection fee schedule effective January 1, 2025, set by the Department under CCHD Rules and Regulations §701 and repeated on the county's Fee Schedule & Payment page (chesco.org/5973); they are county-only fees with no state component. The Board of Health has proposed a revised schedule for January 1, 2027: its July 21, 2026 minutes record that the draft is complete and that 'a small increase to fees is planned', and its August 18, 2026 minutes record that a summary was shared with the Commissioners and Board ahead of public comment. The revised amounts are not published.

Shared with other businesses in Chester County Pa

• Certified Food Manager (CFM) Certificate — Chester County Health Department, $40 per CCHD CFM certificate; duplicate certificate $20, 5 years from course completion (CCHD Rules §303.6); renewable for 5 years with training in the six months before expiry (§303.7). Also required for restaurants, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
• Food Facility License — Chester County Health Department, $100–$750 annual license, by facility type — food facility with fewer than 50 seats $340; 50 or more seats $480; more than 10,000 sq ft $750; in conjunction with a PA liquor license $500; take-out only $340; retail outlet $200; commissary/caterer $340; mobile food facility $340; mobile retail outlet $200; beverage manufactured on premises with tasting room, no food $180; tax-exempt food facility $170; tax-exempt retail outlet $100; food service at day care $200, annual (CCHD Rules §605.3.2.5 refers to 'annually licensed establishments' under Chapter 300). Also required for restaurants, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Temporary Food Facility (Temporary Event) License — Chester County Health Department, $10–$200 per event, non-refundable — 1–14 day food event $100; 1–14 day food event, tax-exempt $50; cook-off food event (organiser) $200; cook-off food participant $10; late fee $50 when the application arrives less than 5 days before the event, per event, up to 14 consecutive days at a fixed location with a single event (CCHD Rules §605.2.1.10). Also required for restaurants, food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Farm Market Vendor License — Chester County Health Department, $20–$150 farm market vendor license $150; each additional location $20; farmers' market vendor (plan) review $50, the license term is not stated in the CCHD fee schedule or on the Farmers' Market Guidelines page; contact the Chester County Health Department, 610-344-6225. Also required for retail stores and food trucks; 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 restaurants, 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 restaurants, retail stores and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.