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​Do I Need a Permit?

For Pennsylvania, an SLF Permit is required for businesses, agencies and organizations which move regulated articles (such as products, vehicles or other conveyances) within or out of the quarantine.

For non-Pennsylvanian businesses a permit is required to move regulated articles into PA from areas outside of PA where SLF populations have been found.

Multiple states in the Mid-Atlantic region have SLF populations and/or quarantines. Links to those states' SLF information webpages can be accessed through the SLF Permitting Page. State Regulatory Officials have employed a reciprocal permit agreement, meaning a permit from one state is accepted by the others, and does not require permits from each individual state.

If you are not sure if your business, agency or organization needs a permit, please review the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Decision Tree. If you are unsure if you are in quarantine zone, please review the Interactive SLF Quarantine Map. Additional information about the SLF permit and the SLF quarantine are available on the Business and Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine pages.


Business Examples & Permit Needs

  • A tax preparation business has an office within the quarantine zone. Employees drive their personal cars to work and work in the office all day. The business has no company cars, and is not actively moving products.

This business does not need a permit. However, employees are encouraged to complete and carry a compliance checklist in their own vehicles.

  • A potato chip company has a manufacturing facility in the quarantine zone that packages pallets of product, and ships either in its own fleet of trucks or with common carriers.

This business needs a permit. 

  • The PA Department of Agriculture (PDA) has a regional office within the quarantine zone. In the course of their duties, some regional staff drive state vehicles within the zone, and some drive in and out of the quarantine zone. 

This organization needs a permit. 

  • A business based in a non-quarantine county of Pennsylvania routinely delivers truckloads of products to New York. The truck drives through the quarantine area but does not stop to load or unload any product.

This business does not need a permit. However, the business should consider securing the truck and load from hitchhiking Spotted Lanternfly. If you do not originate from an SLF infested area, the load is covered or contained and do not stop in the PA quarantine for business or for anything except quick stops (i.e. fueling), you are not required to get a permit.

  • An agricultural business that is based outside the quarantine zone routinely delivers produce to a retail distribution center in the quarantine zone. The truck stops in the zone, unloads product, and may or may not load material for the return trip. 

This business needs a permit. 

  • A non-agricultural business that is based outside the quarantine zone routinely delivers products to a retail distribution center in the quarantine zone. The truck stops in the zone, unloads product, and may or may not load material for the return trip. 

This business needs a permit. 

  • An out of state company from an area free from SLF conducts business within the PA quarantine.

This business needs a permit. 

  • An out of state company from an area free from SLF conducts business outside the PA quarantine.

This business does not need a permit. 

  • An out of state company from an area with an SLF population conducts business in PA.

This business needs a permit. 

  • A company conducts business within one quarantined county.

This business needs a permit. 

  • A bus company provides transportation on dedicated travel routes within or from the quarantine.

This business needs a permit. This would apply to school, transit, charter buses, etc.

  • A bus company provides transportation for special events within or from the quarantine.

This business needs a permit. This would apply to school, transit, charter buses, etc.

  • A business does not ship anything, but receives goods originating in areas with SLF from third-party carriers.

This business needs a permit. The business should obtain a permit and train employees about SLF, especially those engaged in the receipt of goods (e.g., those working in warehouses and at loading docks). Those employees should inspect for SLF upon receipt of goods.

  • A business manufactures goods within the quarantine and contracts motor freight carriers to distribute within and outside the quarantine.

This business needs a permit. The business should obtain a permit and train employees about SLF especially those engaged in the receipt and shipment of goods (e.g., those working in warehouses and at loading docks). Those employees should inspect for SLF upon receipt of goods and prior to shipping goods from the distribution center. The business should certify the goods are free from SLF using a permit certification label or statement on bill of ladings.

  • A Home Health Care business contracts nurses to do in-home care.  Some of the patients live in the quarantine area. 

          This business needs a permit. Nurses should keep SLF inspection logs             for their business travel.                                                                                      

  • An automotive dealership is located within the quarantine.

This business needs a permit. Each dealership-owned vehicle (e.g., maintenance and shuttle vehicles) should have a permit copy. For-sale vehicles are not required to have a permit. As vehicles are sold, they should be inspected for SLF before the new owner leaves the lot.