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

Eating & Drinking Establishment License — Mobile Food Vendor (E License)

A food truck operating in Montgomery County needs this Mobile Food Vendor license from OPH, priced per vehicle at $290 per year under the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule. A mobile unit must also be tied to a licensed Commissary (the D License listed separately here) under the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Food Code adopted by reference. A childcare facility's own on-site food preparation needs the facility-type license listed elsewhere here instead; this record is specifically for a vehicle-based mobile unit. The exact renewal cycle length is not stated in the fee schedule or Chapters 1, 4, or 21 of the Public Health Code; OPH's own permitting and licensing page confirms only that current holders are invoiced to renew about 45 days before an unstated expiration date.

Farmer's Market Vendor Permit

A retail-store or food-truck vendor selling at a farmers market in Montgomery County needs this Farmer's Market Vendor Permit from OPH, priced flat at $160 under the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule — the schedule's own Farmer's Market Vendor line lists only this single tier, with no second or higher tier. The application form for this permit is published separately from OPH's other Environmental Field Services applications. The schedule does not separately state how long the permit covers beyond the flat per-permit fee itself, so only the flat fee is given here, with no season length.

Food Facility Plan Review

Before a new food facility opens, or an existing one remodels, in Montgomery County, OPH reviews the construction plans for a one-time fee under the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule: a retail food facility pays $265 for the first 2,000 square feet, plus $65 for each additional 1 to 200 square feet, while a non-retail food establishment pays a flat $265. This plan-review fee is charged in addition to, not instead of, the operating license fee for whichever Eating & Drinking Establishment facility type (A, B, C, D, or E license, each listed separately here) applies to the finished business.

Certified Food Safety Manager (CFSM) Certificate

Every 'Person in Charge' of a public food-service facility in Montgomery County — relevant to the restaurant, coffee-shop, and food-truck industries — must hold this Certified Food Safety Manager certificate, issued by OPH for $95 under the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule's Field Services table, valid for five years per Chapter 4 §4-3(e). Chapter 4 §4-3(h) exempts a facility that handles only commercially prepackaged food, or no potentially-hazardous food, from needing a certificate holder on staff. A reciprocity application is available for an applicant who already holds an out-of-county or out-of-state CFSM credential, letting that credential carry over rather than requiring a new county exam.

Shared with other businesses in Montgomery County Pa

• Eating & Drinking Establishment License — Commissary, incl. Caterers (D License) — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, $460 per year, covering a commissary base for mobile food units or a stand-alone catering operation, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, The 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, Chapter 4 (Food Code), Chapter 21, and Chapter 1 do not state the exact length of a license term. OPH's own permitting and licensing page states that current license holders are invoiced to renew approximately 45 days before an expiration date the page does not otherwise state.. Also required for restaurants; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.
• Temporary Food Service License (Special Event) — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, $105–$180 per vendor, per event — $180 standard, $105 for a nonprofit vendor, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, Per event.. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Eating & Drinking Establishment License — Take-Out / Non-Temporary Vendor (B License) — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, $290 flat annual fee, covering both a take-out facility with no seating and a non-temporary vendor stand, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, The 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, Chapter 4 (Food Code), Chapter 21, and Chapter 1 do not state the exact length of a license term. OPH's own permitting and licensing page states that current license holders are invoiced to renew approximately 45 days before an expiration date the page does not otherwise state.. Also required for restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Mass Gathering Permit — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, $885 processing fee per Mass Gathering event, plus $180 per vendor booth or stand, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, Per event.. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores 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.