Restaurants and food trucks.
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 Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Office of Food Protection issues the health permit.
About 3,848 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 1,550,542. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
$239/yr for up to 5,000 sq ft; $599/yr over 5,000 sq ft; A non-refundable $20 application fee is deducted from the total (remainder due on approval); Late renewal (>60 days past due) adds 1.5% of the license fee per month; A separate Commercial Activity License ($300) is also required for all Philadelphia businesses
Turnaround: ~30 business days for preliminary review + fee-assessment letter; expedited ~10 business days
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.
$165/yr license; mobile plan review $150; initial health inspection (truck + commissary) $190; reinspection $100 if failed; expedited service +$380. Commercial Activity License ($300/yr) also required; Center City vending-zone parking (optional, via lottery) ~$2,750/yr
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
A code-compliant kitchen in Philadelphia County needs more than the health permit — these approvals are handled by separate offices. Confirm current requirements with each.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| caterer | — | "Food Caterer License" (permanent-location food preparation for catering); $20 non-refundable application fee applied toward the license fee; balance due on approval |
| market/grocery with deli | $239 (up to 5,000 sq ft) + $20 application | "Food Establishment Retail, Permanent Location License" for grocery, drug store, or market |
| food processing/wholesale | — | "Food Manufacturer License" to manufacture, process, or wholesale food; $20 non-refundable application fee applied toward license fee |
| temporary/seasonal/special-event | — | Special-event food/beverage plan review and Farmers Market operation handled by Dept of Public Health; "Food Preparation and Serving License" covers restaurants/delis/caterers preparing or serving food |
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 Philadelphia 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 →