Commercial Activity License — Philadelphia
Every business operating in Philadelphia must hold a Commercial Activity License from L&I (and a City tax account).
What it is. The Commercial Activity License (CAL) — required for anyone engaging in business in Philadelphia. There is no fee for the CAL. You also need a Philadelphia tax account (Business Income & Receipts Tax).
Who issues it. City of Philadelphia — Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) (City layer).
When you need it. Before operating; the CAL name must match your other license applications.
How to apply. Apply online through L&I / phila.gov after obtaining a City tax account.
Fees. Free (CAL) — see source.
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
- City of Philadelphia, Get a Commercial Activity License — https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-license/business-licenses/activity/get-a-commercial-activity-license/ — 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.