Retail Food Facility Licenses are issued to:

• Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Food Auctions, Grocery Stores, Convenient Store, Beer Distributors, Schools, Caterers and similar public food facilities where food is sold or served directly to a consumer from a physical location or facility. 

• All retailers are required to obtain a Retail Food Facility License PRIOR to operating a Retail Food Facility. This includes new facilities and change of ownerships for existing businesses. Licenses are non-transferable to another proprietor, new facility or location.

How to Apply:

All NEW Applicants

• Download and/or print, the Application Packet – Retail Food Facilities and Restaurants under FORMS on the right hand side of this page.

Change of Ownership

• New owners MUST submit "Application Packet- CHANGE OF OWNER."

Remodeling

• Currently licensed facilities MUST submit "Application Packet- Retail Food Facility- REMODEL" to the Department prior to any remodeling or significant changes to the service, equipment, or facilities. There is no fee for the plan review application process.
• New owners who are also remodeling MUST submit BOTH applications listed above.

All material must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the preparation/sale of food from a retail food facility. Failure to provide all required information can delay and/or deny your plan review. Email is the preferred method of plan review submission.

Submit completed applications and requested documentation to:

RA-AGPLANREVIEW@pa.gov

or mail / fax to:

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services

Attn: Plan Review

2301 N. Cameron St, Room 112

Harrisburg, PA 17110

Fax: 717-787-1873

• If your county is under a County Health Department Jurisdiction, you should contact them directly for licensing. These counties include Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
• Do not send money with this application
• Allow 4-6 weeks for processing  
  
  

If Approved:

• You will receive an approval letter via email or mail
• An inspector will schedule an on-site inspection of the facility
• Upon a compliant inspection, your license fee will be collected, and a Retail Food Facility License issued
  
  

If not Approved:

• You will be sent a letter describing why the plans were not approved.  Applicants are encouraged to re-submit the plans again with the corrected or requested information.

If inspection is not passed:

• You will be provided with an inspection report stating your deficiencies.  When deficiencies are corrected, you can contact your inspector to request another inspection.
• Renewal of Licenses – Renewal of licenses occurs annually with notification to proprietors approximately 45 days prior to the current expiration date.  Renewals can also be processed online with a user account and unique business code. If you do not receive a renewal application or know your business code, contact the department at 717-787-4315.
• Lost/Duplicate License – Contact the department at 717-787-4315.

Fees