Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.
McKean County food-facility health permits run about $82–$300 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Confirm the exact amount with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety 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 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety issues the health permit. Pennsylvania sets food-establishment fees at the state level through Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety, EXCEPT in counties/cities that run their own health department (which set their own fees). Confirm which applies to your exact address.
About 84 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 39,519. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Last verified: 2026-08-21 — 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amendments aren’t individually reviewed, so confirm current rules with the authority having jurisdiction.See something out of date?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 →
(Follow-up/courtesy inspections: $150 courtesy, $150 second follow-up, $300 third follow-up.)
Set at the state level by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety; a single statewide fee schedule for counties without their own health department
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
How McKean County’s permit cost compares
At about $82/year, McKean County’s restaurant health permit is about the Pennsylvania median ($82) and below the U.S. median ($125) — higher than about 31% of U.S. counties.
Ranked 37th-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 84 food & drinking establishments serve ~39,519 residents in McKean County — one per ~470 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 ~$82 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.
Equipment your McKean 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 McKean 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 McKean County?
Retail Food Facility License (statewide, PDA jurisdiction): $82 annual renewal; $241 new license; $103 new owner-operated facility under 50 seats; $82 change of ownership; $14 duplicate license; (Follow-up/courtesy inspections: $150 courtesy, $150 second follow-up, $300 third follow-up.) These are annual health-permit fees, usually tiered by seating or size; confirm your exact category with the department.
Is plan review required in McKean County?
Plan review may apply; check locally with the department. Typical fees: $0 (PDA plan review provided at no fee)
Who issues food permits in McKean County?
Food permits here are issued by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety. 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