foodservicenerd
Local permits & fees

Chester County, PA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Chester County Health Department (one of Pennsylvania's few county health departments) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Eating & Drinking Establishment License
$340 (less than 50 seats); $480 (50 or more seats); $750 (over 10,000 sq ft); $500 (with PA liquor license); $340 (take-out only)

Fee schedule effective 01/01/2025; county intends to update every two years.

Plan review — required

$300 (standard food facility); $500 (over 10,000 sq ft); $100 (commissary added to existing); $50 (farm market vendor). An additional $200 per phase may be charged.

Turnaround: Up to 30 days processing from date received

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Facility
$340

Mobile Retail Outlet is a separate lower category at $200.

How to apply

Forms & applications

Watch out for

  • County-administered health department (empowered under PA Act 106); does NOT use the PA Dept of Agriculture fee schedule
  • Commissary/Caterer $340
  • Retail Outlet / grocery $200; Farm Market Vendor $150
  • Temporary/seasonal: 1-14 day event $100, tax-exempt event $50, cook-off event $200; late fee $50 if under 5 days notice
  • School $300; Hospital/Long-Term Care $550; Day Care $200; Organized Camp/Campground $150
  • Follow-up inspections: 2nd $250, 3rd+ $350; duplicate license $30

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$340Billed as 'Commissary/Caterer' (single combined category at $340).
Commissary / central preparation kitchen$340Billed as 'Commissary/Caterer'; adding a commissary to an existing facility adds $100 plan review.
Grocery / market with deli$200Billed as 'Retail Outlet' ($200); Mobile Retail Outlet also $200.
Temporary / seasonal event$100 (1-14 day event); $50 (1-14 day tax-exempt event); $200 (cook-off event)Late fee $50 if application filed with under 5 days notice.
Pushcart / mobile vending$340 (Mobile Food Facility); $200 (Mobile Retail Outlet)Mobile Food Facility (food prep) is $340; Mobile Retail Outlet (packaged) is $200.
Pennsylvania statewide rules
Who licenses you, reciprocity, and the state regime.
What equipment you need
Build a tailored equipment checklist for your concept.
Permits & plan review, explained
The stack of approvals before you open.
Sources: www.chesco.org · www.chesco.org · www.chesco.org · observed 2026-08-07