Skip to main content

Original text


Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Food Service Industry Resources for Philadelphia
>
March 13, 2024
Rating

Starting a food business in Philadelphia?

Here is a guide on food safety, licensing and permits in the City of Philadelphia for restaurant owners, caterers, event planners, and food truck operators.

Stationary vs. non-stationary food businesses

The City has two classifications of food industry businesses: stationary and non-stationary. A stationary or permanent food business designation includes a sit-down restaurant, grocery store, bar or food franchise business. A non-stationary food business designation includes a mobile food truck or food stand, or any moveable structure.

 Instructions for “stationary” food operations

  1. First, refer to the city’s comprehensive guide for opening a stationary food business
  2. Inquire about a zoning permit – which is required to utilize any building as a restaurant
  3. A Building permit, which is different from a zoning permit, is required to build a new restaurant  
  4. Obtain a Philadelphia Food Safety Certificate from Department of Public Health - Office of Food Protection
  5. Restaurant specifications – building and space layout, equipment specifications and menu  - have to be approved in a Plan Review process
  6. Electrical and Plumbing Permits must be acquired
  7. Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy
  8. All Philadelphia businesses require a commercial activity license through the Office of Licenses and Inspections
  9. Finally, obtain  Food Liability Insurance

Instructions for “non-stationary food operations

  1. Refer to the City’s Comprehensive Guide for opening a non-stationary food operation  
  2. Obtain a non-stationary location license
  3. Obtain a Philadelphia Food Safety Certificate from Department of Public Health - Office of Food Protection
  4. Apply for a Plan Review for mobile food operation  
  5. All Philadelphia businesses require a commercial activity license through the Office of Licenses and Inspections
  6. Obtain Food Liability Insurance

Event Planners and Organizers

Special Events require different approval processes. If you are an event planner/organizer and intend to serve food and beverages at your events – refer to the City’s guide for events.

If you want to serve food or drinks at no more than three special events per year, you need to submit the temporary special event permit application. Each special event requires a separate special event permit.

If you want to serve food or drinks at four or more special events per year, you need to submit the    permanent special event permit application. A permanent special event permit is good for one year.

Certified Commercial Kitchens

If you are seeking a food preparation space for mobile or event operations, it must be prepared in a certified commercial kitchen space.

A certified kitchen is a shared use space that is commercially-licensed for chefs, bakers, caterers, food trucks, and other culinary professionals. You typically pay for a membership, or by the hour in order to rent out cooking space alongside other food entrepreneurs. You also get to share resources like cold storage, equipment, and cleaning supplies.

Local commercial kitchens for rent:

Professional Associations

Social Media and Food Marketing Resources

Other Food-Related Resources

Businesses, services and products mentioned here should not be construed as an endorsement, approval or recommendation by SCORE of the owners or operators of those linked websites or of any information, graphics, materials, products or services referred to or contained on those linked websites. These links are merely provided for information purposes only. No warranty or representation is given or made as to the reliability, completeness, accuracy or authenticity of the content available herein. SCORE, its partners, directors, employees, agents or its related bodies shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, consequential or other damages whatsoever (including, but not limited to, liability for loss of use, data or profits), without regard to the form of any action, including but not limited to contract, statute, negligence or other tortuous actions, arising out of or in connection with the links herein, any content on or accessed by the use of the links herein, or any copy, display or other use hereof. Furthermore, SCORE does not guarantee or warrant that the linked websites will be uninterrupted, without delay, error-free, omission-free, or free of infections by virus or any other manifesting, contaminating or destructive properties. Therefore, the information is provided "as-is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including as to the accuracy, timeliness and completeness.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
CONNECT
105 N 22nd St.
}
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 231-9880

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

In partnership with
Jump back to top