Food Preparation and Serving License — Philadelphia
Philadelphia restaurants need a Food Preparation and Serving License from L&I, with Office of Food Protection review and a certified food manager.
What it is. The Food Preparation and Serving License for eating/drinking establishments (restaurants, bars).
Who issues it. City of Philadelphia — L&I issues the license; the Department of Public Health, Office of Food Protection, reviews and inspects (City layer). A certified food-safety manager is required.
When you need it. Before opening. Requires an active Commercial Activity License first.
How to apply. Apply through L&I; complete Office of Food Protection review/inspection; keep a certified food manager on staff.
Fees. Per the L&I schedule — see source (⟢ VERIFY).
Renewal. Annual (⟢ VERIFY).
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 Food Preparation and Serving License — https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-license/business-licenses/food-businesses/get-a-food-preparation-and-serving-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.