Erie County Department of Health - Environmental Health Services · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
Erie County food-facility health permits run about $150–$425 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $150. Confirm the exact amount with Erie County Department of Health - Environmental Health Services 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 Erie County Department of Health - Environmental Health Services issues the health permit.
About 571 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 267,571. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-18 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 Annual License
Seating-based:
Takeout/no seats $150
1-50 seats $210
51-100 seats $270
101-150 seats $350
>
150 seats $425
From the ECDOH Fee Schedule for Environmental Health Services effective January 1, 2025. Erie is one of PA's few county health departments (regulates food itself, not the PA Department of Agriculture); Retail food facilities are instead priced by square footage ($115 <1,000 sq ft up to $700 >20,000 sq ft); Catering $200; Liquor Control Board license add-on $75. Fees auto-increase 7.5% every third year
Plan review — required
$150 initial application (Programs with annual licenses/permits)
How inspection results are scored/posted here is pending verification — ask the department.
Food truck / mobile permit
Mobile Unit
$150
Annual Food Facility; Mobile Unit license $150. Temporary event food licenses: $50 (1-2 day), $100 (3-7 day), $155 (8-14 day)
How to apply
See the department site above.
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How Erie County’s permit cost compares
At about $150/year, Erie County’s restaurant health permit is above the Pennsylvania median ($82) and above the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 66% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 61st-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 571 food & drinking establishments serve ~267,571 residents in Erie County — one per ~469 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 ~$150 annual health permit + $150 plan review.
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
Equipment your Erie 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.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Confirm whether Erie County or another local jurisdiction (city/district) handles your exact address.
Confirm zoning and permitted use.
Prepare your menu and scaled plans.
Include an equipment schedule with ANSI/NSF spec sheets.
Submit water-heater and hood documentation.
Pay plan-review fees.
Respond to plan-check corrections.
Obtain Environmental Health plan approval.
Obtain building, plumbing, mechanical and fire approvals.
Schedule rough-plumbing, pre-final and final health inspections.
Pay the operating-permit / application fees.
Receive approval before storing or preparing food.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a food permit in Erie County?
Seating-based: Takeout/no seats $150; 1-50 seats $210; 51-100 seats $270; 101-150 seats $350; >150 seats $425 These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in Erie County?
Yes — plan review is required before you build or remodel a food facility. Typical fees: $150 initial application (Programs with annual licenses/permits)
Do I need a commissary for a food truck in Erie County?
In most cases, yes — most mobile units must operate from an approved commissary; confirm exemptions with the department. Annual Food Facility; Mobile Unit license $150. Temporary event food licenses: $50 (1-2 day), $100 (3-7 day), $155 (8-14 day)
Who issues food permits in Erie County?
Food permits here are issued by Erie County Department of Health - Environmental Health Services. 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