Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Montgomery County food-facility health permits run about $345–$460 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $65–$265. Confirm the exact amount with Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) - one of Pennsylvania's independent local health departments (issues its own food licenses) 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 Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) - one of Pennsylvania's independent local health departments (issues its own food licenses) issues the health permit.
About 1,970 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 868,742. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Montgomery County runs its own independent health department and issues its own food licenses (renewed annually; facilities invoiced ~45 days before expiration); Amounts are from the OPH Fee and Permit Schedule effective January 1, 2026 (Public Health Code); Sit-down dining WITH retail sales (AA license) = the A fee plus the applicable Retail Food Facility (C) fee
Turnaround: Written approval/denial/request within 30 days of a complete license application + plan review packet
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.
Montgomery County is one of the PA counties running its own health department, so it issues its own mobile food permit with its own fees and plan-review/inspection rules; Amount from the OPH Fee and Permit Schedule effective January 1, 2026 (was $285 in 2025)
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
A code-compliant kitchen in Montgomery County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| caterer / commissary | $460 (Type D; Commissaries including caterers) | From the OPH Fee and Permit Schedule effective January 1, 2026 (was $450 in 2025) |
| retail food facility / grocery / convenience (Type C) | By square footage: <=1,500 sq ft $155; 1,501-2,500 $325; 2,501-5,000 $355; 5,001-7,500 $420; 7,501-10,000 $520; 10,001-15,000 $590; 15,001+ $700 | Type C Retail Food Facilities (grocery stores, mini marts, convenience stores); A retail facility with take-out/sit-down dining (CC license) adds the Take-out (B) or Sit-down (A) fee |
| take-out / limited food service (Type B) | $290 | Take-out facilities with no seating; also applies to non-temporary vendors (Type B license) |
| temporary / seasonal event | $180 per vendor (special event); nonprofit $105 | Temporary Food Service License (special events); Mass Gathering is separate: $885 processing + $180 per booth/stand |
| pushcart / mobile vending | $290 per vehicle (Type E; Mobile Food Vendor) | Montgomery County OPH issues its own mobile permit as an independent PA health department |
| farmers' market vendor | $160 | Farmer's Market Vendor permit fee (2026 schedule) |
| non-profit charitable operation (Type F) | $105 | Non-Profit charitable operation food license (Type F) |
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.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Montgomery County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →