10 permits · verified 2026-10-21
What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Lackawanna County?
In short
A coffee shop in Lackawanna County, PA has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations charges $125 one-time filing for the articles of incorporation. 4 of the 10 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-21 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a coffee shop in Lackawanna County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Concessionaire License (County Parks, Recreation Areas and County Property)only if it applies to you | Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation Department | Set by bid. Ordinance #216 §V states that the license is "awarded based upon a bid proposal and application review to be administered through the Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation Department" and that "The winning bid shall be based upon the bid amount and review of the bidders application." The ordinance sets no dollar amount. | one year from the date of issue; not transferable | 2026-10-21 |
| 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 Lackawanna County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Review (Lackawanna County Conservation District)only if it applies to you | Lackawanna County Conservation District | Varies — formula on the Lackawanna County page | per project; a letter of adequacy is valid for two years | 2026-10-21 |
| County Planning Review of Subdivision and Land Development Plans (MPC §502)only if it applies to you | Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission | Varies — formula on the Lackawanna County page | per plan submission; the county has 30 days to review and comment | 2026-10-21 |
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 coffee shop in Lackawanna County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 10 records listed for a coffee shop in Lackawanna County, PA, 3 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
4 of the 10 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
County Concessionaire License (County Parks, Recreation Areas and County Property): Set by bid. Ordinance #216 §V states that the license is "awarded based upon a bid proposal and application review to be administered through the Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation Department" and that "The winning bid shall be based upon the bid amount and review of the bidders application." The ordinance sets no dollar amount.
Retail Food Facility License: $82–$241 new license, renewal or change of ownership
The other 2 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Lackawanna County permits page and the PA state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Lackawanna County?
Permits for a coffee shop in Lackawanna County, PA come from 6 separate offices: Lackawanna County Conservation District, Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation Department, Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission, 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.
- Lackawanna County Conservation DistrictIssues 1 permit on this page: Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Review (Lackawanna County Conservation District)1027 S Abington Rd, South Abington Township, PA 18411 · 570-382-3086www.lccd.net/erosion-sedimentation
- Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation DepartmentIssues 1 permit on this page: County Concessionaire License (County Parks, Recreation Areas and County Property)570-963-6764www.lackawannacounty.org/government/departments/parks_and_recreation/index.php
- Lackawanna County Regional Planning CommissionIssues 1 permit on this page: County Planning Review of Subdivision and Land Development Plans (MPC §502)Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Floor 5, Scranton, PA 18503 · 570-963-6400 ext. 11720www.lackawannacounty.org/government/departments/planning2.php
- 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 coffee shop need in Lackawanna County that other businesses do not?
County Concessionaire License (County Parks, Recreation Areas and County Property)
Section II of Lackawanna County Ordinance #216, adopted by the Board of Commissioners on June 13, 2012, states: "It is unlawful for a mobile vendor to engage in business within any Park, recreation area or property owned by the County of Lackawanna, except when licensed as a concessionaire in compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance. A separate license shall be required for each concession location and for each vehicle or concession." The same section excludes "Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton, PA, or the County's amphitheater, commonly known as the Toyota Pavilion, on Montage Mountain in Moosic, PA." Section IV provides that "Concessionaires shall be limited to the business of selling food", with no alcohol or tobacco. Under §V the county awards one concessionaire license per park, recreation area or county property by bid proposal and application review through the Parks and Recreation Department; each employee needs a criminal background check and child abuse clearance, and "A license issued under this Ordinance shall expire one (1) year from the date of issue." Licenses are not transferable. Per §VI, the application goes in with the bid on the department's form and includes vehicle license numbers, the type of food, and a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Health certifying compliance with its regulations. Section X requires insurance naming Lackawanna County as co-insured (at least $500,000 public liability per occurrence and $50,000 property damage), and §VII requires the license to be posted conspicuously. Newspaper couriers, non-profits holding a one-day temporary license from the Parks and Recreation Department, and caterers hired by a private party (selling only to that party) are exempt under §III. The ordinance is listed on the county's current Ordinance Archive. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 570-963-6764.
Shared with other businesses in Lackawanna County
- 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.
The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Lackawanna County, PA; what each one involves is set out on the Lackawanna County 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 coffee shop compare with other businesses in Lackawanna County?
A coffee shop and a food truck in Lackawanna County, PA need exactly the same 3 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a coffee shop | Only a coffee shop needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food trucks | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Restaurants | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Retail stores | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Auto repair shops | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Contractors and trades | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Fitness studios | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Salons and barbers | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the retail stores page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Lackawanna County permits page and the PA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Ordinance #216 (File No. 12-0090) — An Ordinance Adopting and Establishing a Concessionaires License, and Setting Forth Guidelines Therewith for Lackawanna County Park and Recreation AreasLackawanna County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
- Ordinance ArchiveLackawanna County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
- Parks and RecreationLackawanna County · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.