Last updated May 30, 2020

Pennsylvania LLC
Business Licenses and Permits

After you form a Pennsylvania LLC, you need to comply with any county and city license and permit requirements.

Your requirements are determined by the industry you are in and where your Pennsylvania LLC is located.

Not complying with license and permit requirements is risky and can result in penalties and fines, or worse, not being able to conduct business in Pennsylvania.

Types of licenses & permits you may need in Pennsylvania

Below are some license and permit examples your Pennsylvania LLC may need:

• City business licenses/tax permits
• Building permit
• Health permit
• Occupational permit
• Signage permit
• Alarm permit
• Zoning permit
• Alcohol & tobacco permit
• Liquor license
• Sales tax permit
• Use tax permit
• Seller/reseller permit

Do it yourself in Pennsylvania

No State Business License in Pennsylvania
The State of Pennsylvania does not have a general, state-level business license. Instead, business licenses are issued at the local level and depend on the type of business your PA LLC engages in.

Pennsylvania State Agency Business Licenses
You may need to contact a PA state agency that regulates the business your LLC is engaged in to find out if you’re required to get a license or permit: http://legacy.pa.gov/Pages/Agency-Directory.aspx
http://www.dos.pa.gov/Pages/Directory.aspx

Contact Your Local Officials
Since licenses and permits for Pennsylvania LLCs are controlled at the local level, we recommend contacting the county and the city where you do business. You can find the contact details of your local officials here: http://www.pacounties.org/PAsCounties/Pages/Default.aspx

We also recommend contacting the city where you do business as well.

Professional Licenses
Professional LLCs (PLLCs) must obtain permission from the State Board or Commission that regulates their activities: http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/Pages/Board-Contacts.aspx

These occupational licenses are a requirement to practice these professions in PA, but are not to be confused with a business license. If you are required to hold an occupational license in Pennsylvania, you may also be required to obtain a local business license as well.

Next Step

After you’ve researched and obtained the proper licenses and permits for your Pennsylvania LLC, you can then proceed to the next lesson: Pennsylvania LLC Taxes.

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Forming an LLC shouldn't be so complicated. Our step-by-step guide will make the process a breeze – and no complex legal jargon! LLC University® teaches people how to form an LLC for free in all 50 states. We hope you find our free guides and resources helpful in your business journey.