Help Guides - Federal, State, County, and Local License Guide

Purpose: There is no general business license that all Pennsylvania businesses must obtain. Instead, licensing is determined by the business activity, as well as where the business is located. Use this guide for assistance with determining whether you need a Federal, State, County, and/or Local business license based on your business activity and location. NOTE: Click the question mark (?) next to each activity for more information.

Step 1: Review the following list to determine if you need any FEDERAL business licenses*:

Agriculture (USDA)

• Electronic Application
  • https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/apply-to-accept
    • SNAP retailer (Food Stamps, EBT) (?)
  • APHIS eFIle: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/permits
    • Import animals, animal products, biologics, biotechnology, or plants across state lines (?)
    • Transport animals, animal products, biologics, biotechnology, or plants across state lines (?)

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

• Electronic Application
  • https://www.ttbonline.gov/permitsonline/Default.aspx
    • Alcoholic beverage manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, retail sellers (?)

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives:

• Electronic Application
  • https://www.atf.gov/about/mission-areas
    • Firearms, ammunitions, and explosives manufacturers, dealers, importers (?)

Aviation Administration

• Electronic Applications
  • https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates
    • Airmen (?)
    • Aircraft (?)
    • Medical (?)
    • Air carrier and Air agency (?)
    • Airport (?)
    • Commercial space transportation (?)

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement:

• Electronic Applications:
  • https://ewell.bsee.gov/ewell/
    • Drilling for natural gas, oil, or other mineral resources on federal lands (?)

Communications Commission:

• Electronic Application:
  • https://www.fcc.gov/general/consumer-information-obtaining-licenses
    • Radio, television, wire, satellite, or cable broadcasters (?)

Fish and Wildlife:

• Electronic Applications:
  • https://fwsepermits.servicenowservices.com/fws?id=fws_permit_search
    • Wildlife related activity, including import or export of wildlife and derivative products (?)

Maritime Commission:

• Electronic Applications:
  • https://www.fmc.gov/resources-services/
    • Ocean transporters and transport facilitators (?)

Motor Carrier Safety Administration (USDOT Number):

• Electronic Application:
  • https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration
    • Drive a commercial vehicle on interstate routes (?)
    • Use vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds (?)
    • Transport 9 to 15 passengers for compensation (?)
    • Transport 16 or more passengers without compensation (?)
    • Transport hazardous materials (?)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service:

• Electronic Applications:
  • https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/resources-fishing/greater-atlantic-region-forms-and-applications-summary
    • Commercial fishing (?)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• Electronic Applications:
  • https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/licensing.html
    • Produce commercial nuclear energy, fuel cycle facility, or involved in distribution and disposal of nuclear materials (?)

Step 2: Review the following list to determine if you need any STATE business licenses:

Agriculture:

• Electronic Applications:
  • PaPlants: https://www.paplants.pa.gov/SecurityLogin.aspx
    • Amusement rides and attractions (?)
    • Pet food, animal feed manufacturer (?)
    • Industrial hemp (?)
    • Fertilizer manufacturer/guarantor (?)
    • Liming material manufacturer/guarantor (?)
    • Plant merchant (?)
    • Seed distributor (?)
  • Paper Applications:
    • Aquaculture dealer, propagator (game fish, fish bait, baitfish, amphibians, aquatic organisms) (?)
    • Reptile dealer, propagator (?)
    • Food manufacturing, packing, holding, distribution (?)
    • Retail food establishments (restaurants, food truck, caterer) (?)
    • Milk and dairy (?)
    • Dog kennel (private, pet shop, dealer, rescue, boarding, out-of-state dealer) (?)
    • Standardbred horse racing, thoroughbred horse racing (?)
    • Persons who are employed or engaged in the business of selling, installing, servicing, or repairing commercially used weighting or measuring devices (fuel dispensers, vehicle tank meters, liquid propane gas meters, scales, CNG fueling points, load rack meters, timing devices) (?)
    • Farm shows, farm stands (?)
    • Fireworks (?)

Attorney General:

• Electronical Applications:
  • https://hic.attorneygeneral.gov/login.aspx
    • Home Improvement Contractor Registration
  • Paper Applications
    • Health clubs (a person, firm, corporation, organization, club, or association engaged in the sale of memberships in a health spa, racquet club, figure salon, weight reduction center or other physical culture service enterprise offering facilities for the preservation, maintenance, encouragement or development of physical fitness or physical well-being)(?)
    • Telemarketing (?)

Banking and Securities:

• Electronic Applications:
  • National Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS): https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/Pages/Default.aspx
    • Check cashers (?)
    • Credit services loan brokers (?)
    • Debt management/debt settlement (?)
    • Money transmitters (?)
    • Mortgage licensees (?)
    • Motor vehicle finance companies (?)
    • Pawnbrokers (?)
  • Department of Banking and Securities Portal (DoBS Portal): https://www.portal.dobs.pa.gov/
    • Consumer discount companies (?)

Community and Economic Development

• Electronic Applications:
  • Installer Program Portal: https://installationprogram.force.com/s/login/
    • Manufactured home installer (?)
    • New manufactured home retailer (?)

Conservation and Natural Resources:

• Electronic Applications:
  • WebDriller: https://www.webdrillersecure.dcnr.state.pa.us/
    • Water well driller
  • Paper Applications:
    • Streambed gas leasing (?)

Drug and Alcohol:

• Paper Applications:
  • Gambling treatment providers (?)
  • Drug and alcohol treatment providers (?)

Education:

• Electronic Applications:
  • Teacher Information Management System: https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/Pages/TIMS.aspx
    • Educators (?)
  • Paper Applications:
    • Private or non-public schools (?)
    • Charter schools (?)
    • Home education and private tutoring (?)
    • Postsecondary and higher education (?)

Environmental Protection:

• Electronic Applications:
  • DEP Permit Application Consultation Tool: https://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/PACT/usertabs.aspx
    • Mining (?)
    • Wastewater management (?)
    • Site remediation contractor (?)
    • Storage tanks (?)
    • Waste programs (?)
    • Drinking water treatment facility (?)
    • Oil and gas (?)
    • Radioactive material (?)
    • Radiation producing machines (?)
    • Radon (?)
    • Nuclear safety (?)
    • Low-level radioactive waste (?)
    • Emergency response (?)
    • Decommissioning and environmental surveillance (?)

Fish and Boat Commission:

• Paper Applications:
  • Boat registration issuing agent (?)
  • Fishing license issuing agent (?)

Game Commission:

• Paper Applications
  • Hunting license issuing agent (?)

Gaming Control Board:

• Paper Applications:
  • Gaming service providers (?)

General Services:

• Electronic Applications:
  • PA Supplier Portal: https://pasupplierportal.state.pa.us/irj/portal/anonymous
    • Materials and services providers (?)
    • Automotive service providers for Commonwealth vehicles (?)
    • Construction and design services for the Commonwealth (?)
    • Small business certification (?)
    • Small diverse business certification (?)

Health:

• Electronic Applications:
  • Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Program Online Application: https://apps.health.pa.gov/ddc/DDCIdentity.asp?TAction=New
    • Prescription drug manufacturers, distributers, and retailers (?)
    • Medical device manufacturers, distributers, and retailers (?)
    • Medicated cosmetics (?)
  • Paper Applications:
    • Hearing aid fitters, sellers (?)
    • Medical marijuana (?)
    • Indoor tanning (?)
    • Public swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and beaches (?)
    • Organized camps (?)
    • Hospice Agencies (?)
    • Hospitals (?)
    • Intermediate Care Facilities (?)
    • Pediatric Extended Care Centers (?)
    • Rehabilitation Agencies (?)
    • Nursing Homes (?)
    • Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (?)
    • Birth Centers (?)
    • Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (?)
    • Home Care Agencies (?)
    • Home Health Agencies (?)
    • Hospice Agencies (?)
    • Kidney Dialysis Centers – End Stage Renal Disease Centers (?)
    • Outpatient Physical/Speech Occupational Therapy Clinics (?)
    • Rural Health Clinics (?)

Human Services:

• Electronic Applications:
  • Pelican Provider Self-Service: https://www.pelican.state.pa.us/provider/default.aspx#
    • Childcare centers (?)
  • Paper Applications:
    • Children, youth, and families facilities (?)
    • Mental health facilities (?)
    • Intellectual disabilities programs (?)

Insurance Department:

• Electronic Applications:
  • Sircon: https://www.sircon.com/landingPages/states/pennsylvania/content.jsp
    • Resident insurance producers (?)
    • Nonresident insurance producers (?)
    • Title insurance agent (?)
    • Surplus lines (?)
    • Moto vehicle physical damage appraiser (?)
    • Public adjuster (?)
    • Viatical settlement broker (?)

Labor and Industry:

• Electronic Applications:
  • https://mypath.pa.gov
    • Unemployment Compensation (?)
    • Worker’s Compensation (?)
  • Paper Applications:
    • Boiler and unfired pressure vessels (?)
    • Bedding and upholstered furniture manufacturer (?)
    • Stuffed toy manufacturer (?)
    • Renovators, auctioneers, secondhand dealers, and rental dealers of renovated bedding and upholstered furniture (?)
    • Lead paint occupation (?)
    • Asbestos occupation (?)

Liquor Control Board:

• Electronic Applications:
  • PLCB+: https://plcbplus.pa.gov/pub/Login.aspx
    • Winery (?)
    • Direct wine shippers (?)
    • Liquor licensees (?)
    • Brewery (?)
    • Distillery (?)
    • Tavern gaming (?)

Lottery:

• Electronic Applications:
  • Retailer Portal: https://www.paretailer.lottery.state.pa.us/RetailerPortal/
    • Becoming a retailer (?)

Public Utility Commission:

• Electronic Applications:
  • PUC eFiling System: https://efiling.puc.pa.gov/
    • Electricity (?)
    • Natural Gas (?)
    • Pipeline transmission of natural gas and hazardous materials (?)
    • Motor carrier transportation of passengers and property (?)
    • Railroad crossings (?)
    • Telecommunications (?)
    • Water and wastewater collection and disposal (?)

Revenue: 

• Electronic Applications:
  • myPATH: https://mypath.pa.gov
    • Employer withholding (?)
    • Sales and Use Tax, Hotel Occupancy Tax (?)
    • Public Transportation Assistance Tax (?)
    • Corporate Taxes (?)
    • Business Use Tax (?)
    • Tobacco Products License (?)
    • Transient Vendor Certificate (?)
    • Unemployment Compensation (?)
    • Vehicle Rental Tax (?)
    • Wholesaler Certificate (?)
    • Worker’s Compensation Coverage (?)

State:

• Electronic Applications:
  • PALS: https://www.pals.pa.gov/#/page/default
    • Public accountant, certified public accountant (?)
    • Architect (?)
    • Auctioneer, apprentice auctioneer, auction company, trading assistant, trading assistant company (?)
    • Barber, manager-barber, barber-teacher (?)
    • Real estate appraiser, assessor (?)
    • Chiropractor (?)
    • Esthetician, nail technician, cosmetologist, cosmetology teacher (?)
    • Crane operator (?)
    • Dentist, dentist hygienist, dental assistant (?)
    • Engineer, land surveyor, geologist (?)
    • Funeral director (?)
    • Landscape architect (?)
    • Massage therapist (?)
    • Medical doctor, physician assistant, radiology technician, respiratory therapist, nurse-midwives, acupuncturists, practitioners of oriental medicine, perfusionists, behavioral specialists, athletic trainers (?)
    • Delaware River Pilot (?)
    • Registered nurse, practical nurse, certified registered nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, dietitian-nutritionist, graduate nurse (?)
    • Nursing home administrator (?)
    • Occupational therapist, occupational therapist assistant (?)
    • Optometrist (?)
    • Osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, respiratory therapist, athletic trainer, acupuncturist (?) 
    • Pharmacist, pharmacy, pharmacy interns (?)
    • Physical therapist, physical therapist assistant (?)
    • Podiatrist (?)
    • Psychologist (?)
    • Real estate broker, salesperson, cemetery broker, cemetery salesperson, campground membership salesperson, time-share salesperson, builder-owner salesperson, rental listing referral agent (?)
    • Social worker, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor (?)
    • Speech-language pathologist, audiologists, teachers of the hearing impaired (?)
    • Vehicle salesperson, dealer, vehicle auction, manufacturer, factory branch, distributors, distributor branch, factory or distributor representative (?)
    • Veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary schools and colleges (?)

State Police:

• Electronic Applications:
  • Training and Certification System: https://www.tacs.pa.gov/tacs/
    • Armed security (Act 235) (?)

Transportation (PennDOT):

• Paper Applications:
  • PennDOT contractor (?)
  • Public/Private airports and heliports (?)
  • Drones (?)
  • Bus, school vehicle (?)
  • Limousine, taxi (?)
  • Commercial driver (CDL) (?)
  • Station owner and inspection (?)
  • Repair and towing (?)
  • Vehicle salvage (?)
  • Transporter (?)
  • Financier or collector-repossessor (?)
  • Watercraft trailer dealer (?)
  • Highway occupancy permits (?)
  • Junkyard/Automotive dismantler and recycler (?)
  • Agent Service (Vehicle) (?)
  • Online Messenger Service (Vehicle) (?)
  • Card Agent Service (Vehicle) (?)

Step 3: Review the following list to determine if you need any COUNTY business licenses:

Clerk of Court of Common Pleas (?):

• Paper Applications:
  • Security businesses (private detectives, investigators, watch, guard, or patrol Agency) (Private Detective Act of 1953, Section 4) (?)

Sheriff

• Paper applications:
  • Precious metal dealers (?)

Step 4: Contact your locality to determine if you need any LOCAL business licenses. To find the proper contact for local licensing questions search your business/home address at the following link: https://business.pa.gov/register/local-registrations-permits-zoning/.

*Resource: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/apply-licenses-permits

Revised 4/2/2025