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

Retail Food Facility License (annual)

A restaurant, coffee shop, grocery or other retail food store, caterer or mobile food unit in Erie County, Pennsylvania needs an annual license from the Erie County Department of Health. The Department's Restaurants, Groceries and Events page states that it "is responsible for inspecting and licensing more than 1,600 retail food facilities throughout Erie County. This includes restaurants, grocery stores, cafeterias, mobile food vendors and vending companies", and links the 2025 fee schedule. The fees are per the Erie County Department of Health 'Fee Schedule for Environmental Health Services', which gives an effective date of January 1, 2025 and which the Erie County Board of Health minutes of October 28, 2024 describe as "approved by County Council". The posted schedule's header reads "Proposed effective date: January 1, 2025", and the Board of Health minutes of October 28, 2024 state: "A new fee schedule for services was approved by County Council." The annual fee ranges from $115 for a retail store under 1,000 sq. ft to $700 over 20,000 sq. ft, and from $150 for takeout with no seats to $425 for more than 150 seats; a mobile unit pays $150 and a caterer $200. A new facility also pays the $150 initial application fee, and a $75 rush fee applies when the application is submitted within 7 days of opening. The schedule (§10.A) provides an automatic increase: 'Effective January 1 of every third year following the date of approval, all fees outlined in this fee schedule shall be subject to an increase of 7.5%, rounded to the nearest dollar', and states that the increase 'will occur automatically without the need for further approval or notice'. Applications are made through the Department's online license and permit portal linked from its Licenses, Permits & Inspections page.

Temporary Food License (per unit, per event)

A restaurant, coffee shop or food truck selling food at a fair, festival, carnival or other event in Erie County, Pennsylvania needs a temporary food license from the Erie County Department of Health. The Department's Restaurants, Groceries and Events page states that "Temporary licenses are issued to each food facility at an event (i.e., fair, festival, carnival, etc.). Fees are charged per unit per event." The fees are per the Erie County Department of Health 'Fee Schedule for Environmental Health Services', which gives an effective date of January 1, 2025 and which the Erie County Board of Health minutes of October 28, 2024 describe as "approved by County Council": $50 for a 1 or 2-day event, $100 for 3 to 7 days, $155 for 8 to 14 days, and $50 for a seasonal Farmer's Market license (June to October). A late application costs a $50 rush fee per vendor within 7 days of the event, or $100 per vendor within 3 business days when it comes with a Coordinator's Application for a Temporary Event; the schedule states: "Applications for temporary licenses without an accompanying Coordinator's Application for a Temporary Event received within 3 business days will not be able to be accommodated." The schedule (§10.A) provides an automatic increase: 'Effective January 1 of every third year following the date of approval, all fees outlined in this fee schedule shall be subject to an increase of 7.5%, rounded to the nearest dollar', and states that the increase 'will occur automatically without the need for further approval or notice'.

Shared with other businesses in Erie County Pa

• 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.