17 permits · verified 2026-10-01
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Delaware County Pa?
In short
A restaurant in Delaware County Pa, PA has 7 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 10 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Delaware County Health Department charges $57 per certificate; duplicate certificate $28 for the certified food manager (cfm) certificate. 9 of the 17 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-01 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Delaware County Pa
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Facility Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Health Department | $47–$380 one-time, before opening/remodeling — standard plan review $237; facility over 10,000 sq ft $380; farmers' market vendor review $47; change of ownership/turn-key operation $47; operating without plan review approval $190; phased opening inspection $142 | one-time, before opening or remodeling | 2026-10-01 |
| Retail Food Facility License & Inspection | Delaware County Health Department | $47–$570 annual, by facility type — under 50 seats $266; 50+ seats $380; over 10,000 sq ft $570; in conjunction with a PA liquor license $380; beverage manufactured on premises with tasting room, no food prep $142; take-out only $261; retail outlet $190; commissary/caterer $266; tax-exempt facility $47; mobile food facility $261; mobile retail outlet $190; school food facility with private/commercial vendor $332; duplicate license $28; late fee $47 ($19 tax-exempt) | annual, not transferable | 2026-10-01 |
| Temporary Food Facility Licenseonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Health Department | $9–$142 per event (max 14 days) — 1–3 day event $57; 4–7 day event $90; 8–14 day event $142; 1–14 day event, tax-exempt $33; late fee (filed under 5 days before the event) $22 ($9 tax-exempt); the Department refuses applications filed within 24 hours of the event | per event, maximum 14 days | 2026-10-01 |
| Certified Food Manager (CFM) Certificate | Delaware County Health Department | $57 per certificate; duplicate certificate $28 | not stated in the published fee schedule | 2026-10-01 |
| Weights & Measures Commercial Device License | Delaware County Office of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Weights and Measures | $10–$125 fuel dispensers $25 per dispenser hose (or per blend, for a single hose dispensing multiple blends); vehicle tank meters $50 per meter; scales 1–1,000 lbs $25/device, 1,000+ lbs $100/device; PLU devices/scanners, 3 or fewer terminals per location $65, 4 or more $125; timing devices (e.g., car-wash timers) $10/device; every category is capped at $1,000 per location, and a location with mixed device types pays the combined total subject to that cap | annual | 2026-10-01 |
| 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 | 2026-09-03 |
| 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 | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Delaware County Pa
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-Lot Sewage (Septic) System Permitonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Health Department | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Pa page | per permit | 2026-10-01 |
| DCHD Subdivision/Land Development (Act 537) Sewage-Facilities Reviewonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Health Department | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Pa page | per application | 2026-10-01 |
| County Subdivision & Land Development Review Fee (MPC §502) | Delaware County Planning Department | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Pa page | per application/plan; a resubmission on the same tract is charged again, but a refinement within 180 days of Commission review is not (§108) | 2026-10-01 |
| County 2016 Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) — Default Reviewonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Planning Department | No fee | no separate term — governed by the MPC §502 Review Fee record recorded separately for Delaware County | 2026-10-01 |
| Well Construction Permitonly if it applies to you | Delaware County Health Department | Varies — formula on the Delaware County Pa page | per well | 2026-10-01 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
PA registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations | $125 one-time filing | no expiry, but an annual report is due each year | 2026-09-03 |
| Certificate of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations | $125 one-time filing | no expiry, but an annual report is due each year | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations | $7 per year for a for-profit entity | annual | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Pennsylvania position | Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations | No fee | set by the issuing municipality | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax Licenseonly if it applies to you | Pennsylvania Department of Revenue | No fee — no registration fee | 5 years, renewed automatically subject to compliance | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a restaurant in Delaware County Pa?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 17 records listed for a restaurant in Delaware County Pa, PA, 7 apply to every business of this type and 10 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 7 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $57.00. That is a floor, not a total. 9 of the 17 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 3 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Food Facility Plan Review: $47–$380 one-time, before opening/remodeling — standard plan review $237; facility over 10,000 sq ft $380; farmers' market vendor review $47; change of ownership/turn-key operation $47; operating without plan review approval $190; phased opening inspection $142
Retail Food Facility License & Inspection: $47–$570 annual, by facility type — under 50 seats $266; 50+ seats $380; over 10,000 sq ft $570; in conjunction with a PA liquor license $380; beverage manufactured on premises with tasting room, no food prep $142; take-out only $261; retail outlet $190; commissary/caterer $266; tax-exempt facility $47; mobile food facility $261; mobile retail outlet $190; school food facility with private/commercial vendor $332; duplicate license $28; late fee $47 ($19 tax-exempt)
Temporary Food Facility License: $9–$142 per event (max 14 days) — 1–3 day event $57; 4–7 day event $90; 8–14 day event $142; 1–14 day event, tax-exempt $33; late fee (filed under 5 days before the event) $22 ($9 tax-exempt); the Department refuses applications filed within 24 hours of the event
Weights & Measures Commercial Device License: $10–$125 fuel dispensers $25 per dispenser hose (or per blend, for a single hose dispensing multiple blends); vehicle tank meters $50 per meter; scales 1–1,000 lbs $25/device, 1,000+ lbs $100/device; PLU devices/scanners, 3 or fewer terminals per location $65, 4 or more $125; timing devices (e.g., car-wash timers) $10/device; every category is capped at $1,000 per location, and a location with mixed device types pays the combined total subject to that cap
Retail Food Facility License: $82–$241 new license, renewal or change of ownership
The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Delaware County Pa permits page and the PA state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Delaware County Pa?
Permits for a restaurant in Delaware County Pa, PA come from 6 separate offices: Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Office of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Weights and Measures, Delaware County Planning Department, Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Delaware County Health DepartmentIssues 7 permits on this page, including Food Facility Plan Review, Retail Food Facility License & Inspection, Temporary Food Facility LicenseRose Tree 1, 1400 N Providence Rd, Suite 212, Media, PA 19063 · (484) 276-2100www.delcopa.gov/health/license-permits-inspections
- Delaware County Office of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Weights and MeasuresIssues 1 permit on this page: Weights & Measures Commercial Device LicenseGovernment Center Lobby, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063 · 610-891-4865www.delcopa.gov
- Delaware County Planning DepartmentIssues 2 permits on this page: County Subdivision & Land Development Review Fee (MPC §502), County 2016 Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) — Default Review2 W. Baltimore Avenue, Suite 202, Media, PA 19063 · 610-891-5200delcopa.gov/planning/pubs/DelawareCountySALDO
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable OrganizationsIssues 4 permits on this page: Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Organization (LLC), Annual Report, General Business License — Pennsylvania positionfile.dos.pa.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory ServicesIssues 2 permits on this page: Retail Food Facility License, Food Employee Certificationwww.pa.gov/agencies/pda/food/food-safety/retail-food/retail-food-facilities-and-restaurants
- Pennsylvania Department of RevenueIssues 1 permit on this page: Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax Licensemypath.pa.gov
What does a restaurant need in Delaware County Pa that other businesses do not?
Shared with other businesses in Delaware County Pa
- Food Facility Plan Review — Delaware County Health Department, $47–$380 one-time, before opening/remodeling — standard plan review $237; facility over 10,000 sq ft $380; farmers' market vendor review $47; change of ownership/turn-key operation $47; operating without plan review approval $190; phased opening inspection $142, one-time, before opening or remodeling. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Retail Food Facility License & Inspection — Delaware County Health Department, $47–$570 annual, by facility type — under 50 seats $266; 50+ seats $380; over 10,000 sq ft $570; in conjunction with a PA liquor license $380; beverage manufactured on premises with tasting room, no food prep $142; take-out only $261; retail outlet $190; commissary/caterer $266; tax-exempt facility $47; mobile food facility $261; mobile retail outlet $190; school food facility with private/commercial vendor $332; duplicate license $28; late fee $47 ($19 tax-exempt), annual, not transferable. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
- Temporary Food Facility License — Delaware County Health Department, $9–$142 per event (max 14 days) — 1–3 day event $57; 4–7 day event $90; 8–14 day event $142; 1–14 day event, tax-exempt $33; late fee (filed under 5 days before the event) $22 ($9 tax-exempt); the Department refuses applications filed within 24 hours of the event, per event, maximum 14 days. Also required for food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
- Certified Food Manager (CFM) Certificate — Delaware County Health Department, $57 per certificate; duplicate certificate $28, not stated in the published fee schedule. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
- Weights & Measures Commercial Device License — Delaware County Office of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Weights and Measures, $10–$125 fuel dispensers $25 per dispenser hose (or per blend, for a single hose dispensing multiple blends); vehicle tank meters $50 per meter; scales 1–1,000 lbs $25/device, 1,000+ lbs $100/device; PLU devices/scanners, 3 or fewer terminals per location $65, 4 or more $125; timing devices (e.g., car-wash timers) $10/device; every category is capped at $1,000 per location, and a location with mixed device types pays the combined total subject to that cap, annual. 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 — 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.
The other 5 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Delaware County Pa, PA; what each one involves is set out on the Delaware County Pa permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across PA and are covered on the PA state page.
How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Delaware County Pa?
A restaurant and a food truck in Delaware County Pa, PA need exactly the same 7 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food trucks | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Retail stores | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Coffee shops | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Contractors and trades | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
Sources
Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page, retail stores page, food trucks page and auto repair shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Delaware County Pa permits page and the PA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.