Food Facility Permit & Plan Review — Allegheny County
Pittsburgh restaurants need an Allegheny County Health Department food facility permit (with plan review and a food protection manager).
What it is. The food facility permit required to operate a restaurant, plus pre-opening plan review of the facility/menu, under the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Food Safety Program. A certified Food Protection Manager is required (ACHD offers the course/exam).
Who issues it. Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) — Food Safety Program (County layer). It is unlawful to operate a food facility in Allegheny County without a valid ACHD permit.
When you need it. Before opening (submit plans/menu for plan review) and to keep operating; permits are valid for no more than one year.
How to apply. Create an account on the ACHD Citizens Access Portal; submit the permit application, plans, and menu; pass inspection; keep a certified food manager.
Fees. Per the ACHD Food Safety plan-review/permit fee schedule — see source (⟢ VERIFY).
Renewal. Annual.
What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
References
- Allegheny County Health Department, Food Safety — Permits and Registration — https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Services/Health-Department/Food-Safety/Permits-and-Registration — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.