York County is NOT one of the seven PA county health-department jurisdictions (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery, Philadelphia), so the PA Dept of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety licenses food facilities throughout York County - EXCEPT the City of York, a home-rule city that operates its own municipal Bureau of Health and issues its own General/Health licenses. Confirm which authority applies by the establishment's location.
A commissary/base of operations is required. For PDA-licensed trucks the licensing authority follows the commissary's county.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | PA Dept of Agriculture: caterers are licensed as retail food facilities (new $241 / owner-operated <50 seats $103 / renewal $82, plus $35 registration). City of York: Catering License $100 (may include on-site food service); Restaurant & Kitchen License also names Caterers (base $50 + seat tiers). | Two authorities: PDA for most of York County, the City of York Bureau of Health inside the city. |
| Bakery / food processing | PA Dept of Agriculture: retail bakeries are licensed as retail food facilities ($241 new / $82 renewal, plus $35 registration); wholesale food manufacturers are separately registered/licensed by PDA. City of York: "Meats & Bakery" under the Market and other Food Vendor License $50 (base Market license $25). | PDA covers York County outside the city; the City of York prices market/bakery vendors on its municipal schedule. |
| Bar / limited food service | PA Dept of Agriculture: a bar serving food is a retail food facility ($241 new / $82 renewal + $35 registration). City of York: covered by the Restaurant & Kitchen License (base $50 plus seat tiers $75-$500). | Neither authority publishes a distinct "bar" fee line; a bar with food follows the restaurant/retail-food schedule. |
| Grocery / market with deli | PA Dept of Agriculture: groceries/markets are retail food facilities ($241 new / $82 renewal + $35 registration). City of York Store License: Convenience Store <1000 sq ft $100 / >1000 $150; Grocery Store <7500 sq ft $200 / >7500 $275. | The City of York prices stores by type and square footage on its 01-04-2010 schedule; PDA licenses stores as retail food facilities elsewhere in the county. |
| Temporary / seasonal event | City of York Special Event License: City license holder on-site $0 / off-site $20; non-city vendor 1-2 day event $35 (+$25 if purchased day-of); 3-5 day event $50 (+$100 if day-of). PA Dept of Agriculture regulates temporary events at fairs/festivals under its retail food program (confirm fee with PDA Bureau of Food Safety, 717-787-4315). | The City of York publishes explicit special-event fees; PDA handles temporary events elsewhere in the county. |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | PA Dept of Agriculture: a food truck/cart needs a Mobile Food Facility license priced on the retail food facility schedule ($103-$241 new by size / $82 renewal + $35 registration); licensing authority follows the commissary's county. City of York: Delivery License (food delivered/no service, includes mobile units) $50; Restaurant & Kitchen License names Mobile Vendors (base $50). | A commissary/base of operations is required. |