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

Eating & Drinking Establishment License — Commissary, incl. Caterers (D License)

A food-truck commissary base, or a stand-alone catering operation run by a restaurant, in Montgomery County needs this Commissary/Caterer license from OPH, priced flat at $460 per year under the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule. Every Mobile Food Vendor license listed separately here requires the mobile unit to be tied to a licensed commissary of this type, so a food-truck operator that also runs its own commissary needs both licenses rather than this one alone. 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.

Shared with other businesses in Montgomery County Pa

• Eating & Drinking Establishment License — Sit-Down Dining (A License) — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, $345–$460 annual license fee by seating capacity — up to 49 seats $345, 50 to 199 seats $385, 200 or more seats $460, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule effective January 1, 2026, The 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule, Chapter 4 (Food Code), Chapter 21 (Inspections and Fines), and Chapter 1 (General Provisions) 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 coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops 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 coffee shops, food trucks 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 coffee shops and food trucks; 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 food trucks and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Facility Plan Review — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, Retail food facility plan review, by square footage: 2,000 square feet or less $265, plus $65 for each additional 1 to 200 square feet. Plan review for a food establishment that is not a retail facility is a flat $265, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule., One-time, before opening a new facility or completing a remodel.. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
• Certified Food Safety Manager (CFSM) Certificate — Montgomery County Office of Public Health, $95 per 5-year certificate, per the 2026 Fee and Permit Schedule's Field Services fee table, 5 years, per Chapter 4 §4-3(e): 'A Certified Food Safety Manager is required to reapply for certification every five (5) years.'. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks 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 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.