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Pennsylvania restaurant and bar license requirements

What Pennsylvania asks of restaurants and bars, rule by rule: what each license or card is, who needs it, how long it lasts, and the official source to check it against. Your city or county may add its own.

Last reviewed October 21, 2026

This is a summary to help you plan, not legal advice. Check the linked source before you rely on it.

Cards your people carry

Certified food employee

At least one employee at each licensed food facility holds a nationally recognized food manager certification, and must be available during all hours of operation.

  • Food Manager Certification

    Who needs it
    At least one employee at each facility.
    Issued by
    An ANAB accredited food protection manager program
    How long it lasts
    No expiry set by this rule. See the renewal note.
Who it covers
Every licensed food facility. The certified employee is the person in charge when on site and may cover only one facility. Allegheny, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties, Philadelphia and State College run their own programs instead; this guide has not checked them.
Deadline
A new facility has 90 days. A facility that loses its certified employee has three months.
Renewal
By the date on the certificate. The certificate is posted where the public can see it.
Official source

RAMP server/seller training

Anyone who serves or sells alcohol or checks IDs at a Pennsylvania licensee must be RAMP server/seller trained, and retrained before the training expires.

  • RAMP Server/Seller Training

    Who needs it
    Everyone who serves or sells alcohol or checks IDs.
    Issued by
    A PLCB approved RAMP provider
    How long it lasts
    No expiry set by this rule. See the renewal note.
Who it covers
Alcohol service personnel hired on or after August 8, 2016, owners and managers who serve, sell or check IDs included, and cashiers selling ready to drink cocktails or wine under those permits.
Deadline
Within six months of being hired, or of moving into the job.
Renewal
Retrain before the current training expires. Staff at a catered function must have trained within the two years before it.
Official source

RAMP owner/manager training

A newly approved manager of certain license types completes RAMP owner/manager training, and renews it every two years.

  • RAMP Owner/Manager Training

    Who needs it
    The PLCB approved manager.
    Issued by
    Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
    How long it lasts
    Valid for 2 years.
Who it covers
Managers approved by the PLCB for certain license types.
Deadline
Within 180 days of approval, unless trained in the two years before.
Renewal
Every 2 years. The first time is in a classroom; later ones may be virtual or online.
Official source

Licenses the business holds

Retail food facility license

Every restaurant, bar, club, grocery store, caterer and similar place that sells or serves food to customers needs a retail food facility license before it opens. It is renewed every year.

  • Retail food facility license

    Who holds it
    Each food facility.
    Kind
    Health permit
    Issued by
    Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, or your county health department in the seven counties that license their own
    How long it lasts
    Valid for 1 year.
Who it covers
Every retail food facility, including a new owner of an existing one, because a license cannot be transferred to another owner or location. A few are exempt, such as a place open three days a year or less, or one selling only packaged shelf stable food.
Deadline
Before opening, after the plans are approved and an inspection passes.
Renewal
Every year. The Department of Agriculture sends a renewal notice about 45 days before the expiry date, and renewal can be done online. Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties license through their own health departments instead.
Official source

Retail liquor license renewal and validation

A Pennsylvania retail liquor license is renewed one year and validated the next, so there is a filing and a fee every year. When depends on the license's PLCB district.

  • Retail liquor license

    Who holds it
    Each licensed location.
    Kind
    Liquor license
    Issued by
    Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
    How long it lasts
    Valid for 1 year.
Who it covers
Every retail liquor licensee.
Deadline
The filing deadline is about two months before the district's expiry day.
Renewal
Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 renew in odd numbered years and validate in even; districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 the other way round. Each district has its own day: for example January 31 for District 1, May 31 for Allegheny County and October 31 for Philadelphia. Calendar year licensees expire December 31.
Official source

Keep these current for every restaurant or bar you run.

Currity keeps every date on this page for each person and location, and warns you about each one 90, 60 and 30 days out, then 14, 7 and 1, and on the day.

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