Temporary and Seasonal Facilities and Events

Lenten Fish Fry
Submit a fish fry permit application and fee online through the Citizen Access Portal.

New Citizen Access Portal
Submit permits through the new Citizen Access Portal. Create a user account(PDF, 377KB) to begin.

All temporary and seasonal food facilities except those selling only unprocessed produce or prepackaged foods not requiring Time and Temperature Control for Safety (non-TCS foods) must have a current Allegheny County food permit. Before applying for a permit, please review the Temporary or Seasonal Food Facility Guidelines(PDF, 668KB).

Lenten Fish Frys

Organizations planning to hold one or more Lenten fish fry events this year in Allegheny County must have a valid food permit issued by the Allegheny County Heath Department. For organizations that already have an annual permit, no additional temporary event food permit is required. Please review the Fish Fry Food Safety guide(PDF, 952KB) for safe food storage, cooking, and handling during temporary events.

Obtaining a Fish Fry Permit

Temporary permit fees are $50 for non-profits, or $55 for for-profit organizations. Permits can be obtained online through the Citizen Access Portal, or with a completed Lenten Fish Fry temporary permit application(PDF, 1003KB). A paper application and permit fee can be submitted by mail or in-person. Checks or money orders must be made payable to the "Treasurer of Allegheny County.”

Deliver the completed application and payment to:
Allegheny County Health Department
Food Safety Program
2121 Noblestown Road
Suite 210
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Temporary Food Stands

Temporary food stands are food facilities that operate at a fixed location for no more than 14 consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration. Temporary food facility permits may be obtained for a single event or multiple events. If the entity operating the temporary food facility is a non-profit, then an adjusted fee is available with proof of the non-profit status as described in Article III, Section 302.3 (D). Please see applicable fees below:

Number of Events	Standard Fee	Non-Profit Fee
1	$ 55	$50
2	$ 95	$ 90
3	$ 125	$ 120
4	$ 150	$ 140
5 or more	$ 32 per event	$ 30 per event

Seasonal Food Stands

Seasonal food stands are food facilities that operate for no more than six consecutive months each year at a flea market, farmers' market, or other seasonal celebration. Seasonal food stands only require one permit for each stand. The same permit can be used for multiple recognized farmers' market locations in Allegheny County. The fee for a seasonal food facility is $92.00. If the entity operating the seasonal food facility is a non-profit, then an adjusted fee of $85 is available with proof of the non-profit status as described in Article III, Section 302.3 (D).

Obtain a Permit

To obtain a temporary or seasonal food facility permit, please either use the Citizen Access Portal, or complete the Permit Application for Temporary and Seasonal Food Facilities(PDF, 177KB) and submit it along with the permit fee payment to:

Allegheny County Health Department
Food Safety Program
2121 Noblestown Road, Suite 210
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

A 25% late fee will apply to temporary and seasonal food facility permit applications received less than 14 days from the start of the event or farmer market. Your health permit will be emailed to you in advance.

All "time and temperature for safety (TCS) foods" (previously known as potentially hazardous foods - meats, cheeses, dairy products, fish, pasta, rice, cooked vegetables, etc.) must be prepared on site at the event or at another permitted facility. Foods prepared in a private home that is not a state-registered Limited Food Establishment may not be used or sold at the event. The number of different menu items should be minimized and food preparation steps should be simplified to reduce risk.

Questions about permitting and registration can be emailed using the Ask a Food Safety Question form, by using your Allegheny County Support Center account, or by calling the Food Safety Program at 412-578-8044. Please allow up to 5 business days for a response.