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8 permits · verified 2026-10-21

What permits do you need to open a food truck in Lackawanna County?

In short

A food truck in Lackawanna County, PA has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 5 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. 2 of the 8 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 food truck in Lackawanna County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County Concessionaire License (County Parks, Recreation Areas and County Property)only if it applies to youLackawanna County Parks and Recreation DepartmentSet 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 transferable2026-10-21
Retail Food Facility LicensePennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services$82–$241 new license, renewal or change of ownershiprisk-based — 24, 18, 12 or 6 months, renewed annually2026-09-03
Food Employee CertificationPennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory ServicesNo feeset by the accredited certifying programme, not by the Commonwealth2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

PA registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations$125 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
Certificate of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations$125 one-time filingno expiry, but an annual report is due each year2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations$7 per year for a for-profit entityannual2026-09-03
General Business License — Pennsylvania positionPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable OrganizationsNo feeset by the issuing municipality2026-09-03
Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax Licenseonly if it applies to youPennsylvania Department of RevenueNo fee — no registration fee5 years, renewed automatically subject to compliance2026-09-03

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 food truck in Lackawanna County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 8 records listed for a food truck in Lackawanna County, PA, 3 apply to every business of this type and 5 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

2 of the 8 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

Which offices issue these permits in Lackawanna County?

Permits for a food truck in Lackawanna County, PA come from 4 separate offices: Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation 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.

What does a food truck need in Lackawanna County that other businesses do not?

Shared with other businesses in Lackawanna County

  • County Concessionaire License (County Parks, Recreation Areas and County Property) — 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. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee 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 restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; 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, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores 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 food truck compare with other businesses in Lackawanna County?

A food truck and a coffee shop in Lackawanna County, PA need exactly the same 3 permits beyond the ones every business needs.

Permits particular to each business type in Lackawanna County, PA, compared with a food truck
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a food truckOnly a food truck needsOnly it needs
Coffee shops3300
Restaurants3300
Retail stores2210
Auto repair shops0030
Childcare centres1031
Contractors and trades2032
Fitness studios0030
Salons and barbers1031
Veterinary clinics1031

Sources

Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page and 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.

    Related

    Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.