Start a home kitchen in Pennsylvania

The steps, the costs, where to apply, and how to get inspection-ready — in Pennsylvania's own program terms.

Limited Food Establishment (LFE) registration Nonprofit/charitable private-home food exemption (7 Pa. Code § 46.212(c))

Sales cap: None. The Food Safety Act (3 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 5721–5737) and the PDA's Limited Food Establishment materials establish no annual or other sales cap - the October 2024 application packet lists 'Retail only, Wholesale only, Both Retail and Wholesale, Internet Sales' as permitted methods of sale, and the PA Business One-Stop Shop's official guidance (revised 4/4/2025) states that, beyond the LFE requirements, 'there are no other requirements for a homemade craft, homemade food, or similar business.' There is no scheduled future cap change; the registration fee is $35 (honey processed on the same farm is exempt from the fee but must still register and be inspected if sold off the farm).

Allowed foods: Limited Food Establishments may produce ONLY non-TCS (not time/temperature-control-for-safety, formerly 'potentially hazardous') foods. The PDA's October 2024 application packet lists examples including baked goods (cakes, breads, bagels, cookies, rolls, muffins, brownies, biscuits, tortillas, most fruit pies/pastries), jams and jellies, candy/chocolate/fudge, honey, maple syrup, nut mixes, dry goods, dried herbs, dehydrated foods, spices/seasonings, vinegars, dressings/sauces/salsa, acid/acidified/fermented foods, beverages/drinks/juices, butters and spreads, and beef/meat jerky. Prohibited in an LFE: TCS foods such as raw or heat-treated animal foods (fluid milk, dairy products, eggs, meat and poultry, fish, shellfish), heat-treated plant food, raw sprouts, cut/prepared fresh fruits and vegetables (including melons, tomatoes, salad greens), garlic-in-oil products, tofu and soy protein foods, and perishable baked goods (cheesecakes, pumpkin pies, cream/custard/meringue pastries, baked goods with meat or cheese). Low-acid canned foods (LACF) may NOT be made in an LFE at all - they require a registered commercial food establishment with specialized equipment and FDA process filing. Acid/acidified/fermented foods are allowed only with written recipes/formulas, an approved process flow, initial commercial-lab pH testing showing final equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below, and ongoing batch pH checks. Products are evaluated individually by the Food Inspector; questionable products may require pH and water-activity testing at the producer's expense.

The permit steps

1. PDA registration is required - you may not produce or sell until registered. PDA states: 'Following a compliant inspection and payment of the registration fee you will be permitted to produce, and/or store, and sell your product.'
2. Get municipal zoning approval from your township/borough for a food business on the property (required by the application, Section 2).
3. If you are in a county health department jurisdiction, obtain all applicable county licenses/registrations BEFORE the PDA registration.
4. Prove an approved water supply: municipal water bill, or DEP-approved lab test results (Total Coliform and Nitrate/Nitrite) for a private well, plus DEP documentation - failure to provide written DEP proof results in plan denial.
5. Prepare and attach a written business plan covering ingredient suppliers, storage, equipment, production/packaging methods, transportation, and sales methods and locations.
6. Attach draft product labels meeting FDA-style requirements (product name, ingredients by weight, allergens, manufacturer name/address, net weight) - note baked goods sold directly by the baker to the consumer are exempt from on-product labeling but ingredient info must be available on request.
7. Attach product lab test results where applicable (acid/acidified/fermented foods pH testing, etc.) - all products and recipes must be tested and retested whenever a recipe changes or a new product is added.
8. Sign the no-pets attestation: no animals/pets may be in the home at any time while using the personal home kitchen (limited exception if the processing/storage area is physically separated by a full-closing door with its own entrance/exit, inaccessible to pets at all times).
9. Submit the full application to RA-AGPLANREVIEW@pa.gov or the Harrisburg office at least 60 days before intended production; PDA issues a plan approval/disapproval within 15 business days.
10. After plan approval, contact the regional Food Inspector at least 10 days before production to schedule the opening inspection.
11. Pass the opening inspection and pay the $35 registration fee collected at the inspection. Honey processors whose honey is produced and processed on the same farm are exempt from the $35 fee but must still register and be inspected if selling off the processing farm.
12. If selling at retail satellite locations (farmers markets, fairs, roadside stands) or a retail store at the processing site, additionally obtain a Retail Food Facility License from PDA or the applicable local health department.

How it works, start to finish

1. Contact your local municipality (township/borough office) to verify zoning allows a food business at the property - approval is required before you apply.
2. If you are on a private well, have the water tested at a DEP-approved lab for Total Coliform and Nitrate/Nitrite and attach results (municipal water: attach a copy of your water bill).
3. Get any required lab testing for your products first (e.g., acid/acidified/fermented foods need independent commercial-lab pH testing to 4.6 or below; jams/jellies may need soluble-solids testing) - testing is at your expense.
4. Prepare the required attachments: a written business plan (suppliers, storage, equipment, production and packaging methods, transport, how and where you will sell), draft product labels, proof of a PA sales-tax license or a signed sales-tax-exemption statement, and a signed no-pets attestation.
5. Submit the completed LFE plan-review application to RA-AGPLANREVIEW@pa.gov (or mail/fax to the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, 2301 N. Cameron St., Room 112, Harrisburg, PA 17110) at least 60 days before you intend to produce; PDA notifies you of plan approval/disapproval within 15 business days.
6. After plan approval, notify your regional Food Inspector (RAfoodsafety@pa.gov, 717-787-4315) at least 10 days before production to schedule the opening inspection of your home kitchen.
7. Pass the inspection and pay the $35 registration fee at the inspection - you may then begin producing and selling (your formal registration is mailed within 60 days; the inspection report serves as your official approval until it arrives).
8. If you will sell at retail satellite locations (farmers markets, fairs, roadside stands) or open a retail store at the site, apply for a Retail Food Facility License from PDA or, where one exists, your local/county health department.

Where to apply in Pennsylvania

Registration is administered by the state (PA Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services), but local authorities are part of the path: every applicant must obtain municipal zoning approval, and where a county health department exists, all county licenses/registrations must be obtained before the PDA registration. Residential-home LFE registration is not permitted in Philadelphia County - an LFE operating in Philadelphia County must use NSF/ANSI equipment in a commercially zoned property. Retail satellite locations (farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, retail stores) may additionally need a Retail Food Facility License, obtained from the local health department where one exists.

Official sources — start with the agency or department that runs Pennsylvania's program:

• PA Department of Agriculture - Limited Food Establishment application packet (Rev 10-2024)
• PA Business One-Stop Shop - Homemade Craft/Food Businesses guidance (revised 4/4/2025)
• PA General Assembly - Senate Bill 1444, 2025-2026 (Protecting Home-Based Businesses)

Inspection prep (general)