7 published records
Business licenses and permits in Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County, Pennsylvania, with its seat in the City of Erie, is made up of 38 municipalities. The county Planning and Community Development Department's Subdivisions and Land Development page lists the 26 municipalities with their own subdivision and land development regulations (Albion Borough, City of Corry, City of Erie, Edinboro Borough, Fairview Township, Franklin Township, Girard Borough, Girard Township, Greene Township, Greenfield Township, Harborcreek Township, Lake City Borough, Lawrence Park Township, McKean Borough, McKean Township, Millcreek Township, North East Borough, North East Township, Springfield Township, Summit Township, Union City Borough, Venango Township, Washington Township, Waterford Borough, Waterford Township and Wesleyville Borough) and the 12 where the county ordinance applies (Amity Township, Concord Township, Conneaut Township, Cranesville Borough, Elgin Borough, Elk Creek Township, LeBoeuf Township, Mill Village Borough, Platea Borough, Union Township, Wattsburg Borough and Wayne Township). The same page states: "Of the 38 municipalities in Erie County, 35 have enacted their own municipal zoning." Each municipality's own ordinances, permits and local requirements stack on top of the county records below. At county level, the Erie County Department of Health, a county health department whose Body Art Establishment Regulations are adopted under the Local Health Administration Law (Act 315 of 1951), licenses retail food facilities, temporary food stands and body art establishments and registers public pools under a fee schedule that the Board of Health minutes of October 28, 2024 describe as "approved by County Council"; the Department of Planning and Community Development approves subdivision and land development plans in the 12 municipalities listed above; the Erie County Conservation District reviews erosion and sediment pollution control plans; and the Sheriff's Forms, Permits and Fees page carries the application for the annual Precious Metals Dealer License.
What are you opening in Erie County?
- RestaurantsFull-service restaurants carry the densest permit load of any small business: food, fire, occupancy, waste, and usually alcohol.See the full permit list
- Coffee shopsCafés are permitted as food service establishments even where no cooking happens, and the plan review step catches most operators by surprise.See the full permit list
- Retail storesRetail is the lightest common permit load, but the sales tax permit and the certificate of occupancy are non-negotiable in every jurisdiction.See the full permit list
- Salons and barbersPersonal care is licensed at state board level as well as locally, so the shop license and the practitioner licenses are separate obligations.See the full permit list
- Food trucksMobile food is the one category with no certificate of occupancy — but it gains a commissary agreement, and the unit itself is inspected rather than the premises.See the full permit list
- Fitness studiosPrepaid memberships trigger state registration and often a surety bond, which catches operators who budgeted only for the fit-out.See the full permit list
- Contractors and tradesLicensed at state board level rather than locally, and the only common category with no premises permits at all — the bond is usually the long pole.See the full permit list
Who issues business permits in Erie County?
Permitting in Erie County is split across 4 agencies we hold records for, with tax registration handled at state level. No single office issues everything, which is why an opening usually means filing in several places rather than one.
Erie County issuing agencies
- Erie County Department of HealthLicenses retail food facilities, temporary food facilities and body art establishments, and registers public pools, in Erie County, under its Fee Schedule for Environmental Health Services, effective January 1, 20254 permits
- Erie County Conservation DistrictReviews erosion and sediment pollution control plans for adequacy, as authorized by Act 217 and its delegated agreement with the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and processes Chapter 102 permit applications1 permit
- Erie County Department of Planning and Community DevelopmentApproves subdivision and land development plans under the Erie County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance in the 12 municipalities where it applies, and reviews plans in the 26 municipalities with their own regulations1 permit
- Office of the Sheriff of Erie CountyReceives applications for the annual license as a dealer in precious metals for dealers buying in Erie County1 permit
Other Pennsylvania jurisdictions we cover
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.