Hair Salon Permit Requirements in Philadelphia, PA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC/corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. PA Cosmetology Shop License

   Required from the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs (BPOA). All cosmetology establishments in Pennsylvania must hold a shop license in addition to individual practitioner licenses. Covers the physical salon location.

   Official government source

   $142 initial application fee; $144 biennial renewal (renewed every 2 years, not annually)·4-8 weeks

   $142 initial application fee; $144 biennial renewal (renewed every 2 years, not annually)

   4-8 weeks

2. Individual Cosmetologist License

   Each cosmetologist, barber, or esthetician working in the salon must hold a valid Pennsylvania individual license issued by the PA State Board of Cosmetology under BPOA, requiring completion of approved training hours and passing state board exams. The license renews every two years (biennial), not annually.

   Official government source

   $119 initial (one-time: $26 application fee + $93 exam fee); renewal is $97 every 2 years·4-8 weeks

   $119 initial (one-time: $26 application fee + $93 exam fee); renewal is $97 every 2 years

   4-8 weeks

3. PA Sales Tax License

   Required by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue if the salon sells retail products (shampoo, conditioner, styling products). Services themselves are generally not subject to PA sales tax, but retail sales are.

   Official government source

   Free·1-2 weeks

   Free

   1-2 weeks

1. Commercial Activity License

   Issued by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I), this is the foundational business license required for operating a hair salon in Philadelphia. All commercial operations must hold this license.

   Official government source

   Free (no fee; license does not renew)·Same day (issued automatically when applying online via eCLIPSE)

   Free (no fee; license does not renew)

   Same day (issued automatically when applying online via eCLIPSE)

2. Zoning Permit

   Required from Philadelphia L&I (this is a Use Registration Permit, commonly called a Zoning Permit) to confirm that your salon location is properly zoned for commercial salon use before the business can legally operate.

   Official government source

   $189 per permitted use — the $100 nonrefundable filing fee for non-residential applications is applied toward the final permit fee, not added to it, so a single-use commercial change of use is about $189 (card payments add a ~2.10% surcharge)·About 5 business days for online applications (allow an extra business day for pre-processing); in-person applications are often issued during the visit. The permit expires after six months if the approved use does not start.

   $189 per permitted use — the $100 nonrefundable filing fee for non-residential applications is applied toward the final permit fee, not added to it, so a single-use commercial change of use is about $189 (card payments add a ~2.10% surcharge)

   About 5 business days for online applications (allow an extra business day for pre-processing); in-person applications are often issued during the visit. The permit expires after six months if the approved use does not start.

3. Certificate of Occupancy

   Issued by Philadelphia L&I after inspection. A new Certificate of Occupancy is required if you build out, alter, or change the use of the space for the salon; if you move into a space whose current legal use already covers your operation, confirm the existing certificate with L&I instead.

   Official government source

   $260.50 per space ($253 permit fee, including a $100 non-refundable filing fee, plus $7.50 city/state surcharges)·Up to 20 business days, plus inspection

   $260.50 per space ($253 permit fee, including a $100 non-refundable filing fee, plus $7.50 city/state surcharges)

   Up to 20 business days, plus inspection

4. Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology — Salon License & Inspection

   Hair salons in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, must be licensed and inspected by the PA State Board of Cosmetology (PA Department of State), not the Philadelphia Department of Public Health — salons cannot open before passing this state inspection, which checks sterilization and sanitary practices. Philadelphia residents can file a complaint about a salon with the city, but the city does not itself issue a separate salon sanitation license.

   Official government source

   Included in state salon license fee·1-3 weeks

   Included in state salon license fee

   1-3 weeks

Official Sources

• Philadelphia Dept of Licenses & Inspections
• PA State Board of Cosmetology (BPOA)
• Philadelphia Department of Public Health
• PA Department of Revenue

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