Bucks County Department of Health, Retail Food Facility Program (a county-level health department, uncommon in PA where most retail food is state-licensed by PA Dept. of Agriculture) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Bucks County food-facility health permits run about $345–$1,200 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Bucks County Department of Health, Retail Food Facility Program (a county-level health department, uncommon in PA where most retail food is state-licensed by PA Dept. of Agriculture) before you budget.
Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when Bucks County Department of Health, Retail Food Facility Program (a county-level health department, uncommon in PA where most retail food is state-licensed by PA Dept. of Agriculture) issues the health permit.
About 1,409 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 645,984. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-17 — we re-confirmed the serving authority, its contact, and that the fees below match the current published schedule. Fee schedules may carry an earlier effective date (shown per fee); local ordinances & amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date? Report an update →
Restaurant / food-facility permit
Food Facility license (annual, by seating/size)
Food facilities with less than 50 seats $365
50 or more seats $545
take-out facilities (no seating) $345
any for-profit facility over 10,000 sq ft $1,200
facility licensed in conjunction with a PA Liquor License $545
From 2026 application SA-13 fee schedule (Rev; 11/25); License not transferable; all fees non-refundable; Act 62 requires a PA Sales & Use Tax license/exemption on file
Plan review — required
plan review is required for new/remodeled facilities (Bucks County Plan Review Application SA-85/SA-86) but the plan review fee is not listed on the SA-13 license fee schedule
confirm via the SA-85/SA-86 application or the Health Dept
State Dept of Agriculture (or the county health dept for Allegheny/Philadelphia/Bucks/Delaware/Montgomery) inspects to the PA Food Code; risk-based reports online, no letter grade posted.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Food Unit (per vehicle or stand)
$345 per vehicle/stand
Requires SA-15 Commissary Verification Form identifying a licensed servicing/commissary facility
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Bucks County’s permit cost compares
At about $345/year, Bucks County’s restaurant health permit is above the Pennsylvania median ($82) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 96% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 64th-lowest of 65 Pennsylvania counties by permit cost.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
Local food-service market
About 1,409 food & drinking establishments serve ~645,984 residents in Bucks County — one per ~458 residents, denser than the Pennsylvania average (one per ~525).
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Budget the permit stack
Start with ~$345 annual health permit.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Watch out for
Caterer/Commissaries licensed together at $545
Microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries (on-premises manufacture, no food prep) $345
Non-profit charitable orgs (not with a liquor license) and public/religious school cafeterias $115
Seasonal license (operate up to 180 consecutive days) $260
Bucks County is one of only a handful of PA counties with its own health department that licenses retail food directly
Equipment your Bucks County plan review will check
Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.
Food facilities with less than 50 seats $365; 50 or more seats $545; take-out facilities (no seating) $345; any for-profit facility over 10,000 sq ft $1,200; facility licensed in conjunction with a PA Liquor License $545 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Bucks County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: plan review is required for new/remodeled facilities (Bucks County Plan Review Application SA-85/SA-86) but the plan review fee is not listed on the SA-13 license fee schedule; confirm via the SA-85/SA-86 application or the Health Dept; (215-345-3318)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Bucks County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Requires SA-15 Commissary Verification Form identifying a licensed servicing/commissary facility
Who issues food permits in Bucks County?
Food permits here are issued by Bucks County Department of Health, Retail Food Facility Program (a county-level health department, uncommon in PA where most retail food is state-licensed by PA Dept. of Agriculture). See the department site for current details.
Are city building and fire approvals separate?
Yes — building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals are always separate from the health permit and are often handled by different offices.
Published by Resultex Media Group LLC · Independent & vendor-neutral · Educational only, not legal or engineering advice · Last verified September 2026