Business Licenses

Please be advised that the NFL Draft has designated a prohibited area referred to as the “Red Zone.” This area will be unavailable to vendors who are not formally contracted with the NFL (see images(PDF, 6MB)).

All non-contracted vendors are required to vacate the Red Zone beginning Tuesday, April 21, 2026, through Sunday, April 26, 2026. Normal operations may resume on Monday, April 27, 2026.

Please note that additional impacts to the North Shore will begin in mid-March. More details will be shared as they become available.

Questions regarding alternate locations available for City-licensed Mobile, Stationary, and Peddler Vendors may be directed to Ashley Bryant by email at Vending@Pittsburghpa.gov or by phone at 412-738-9316.

The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections issues the following Business Licenses:

• Bed & Breakfast
• Antique or Secondhand Dealers (includes Junk Dealer & Pawnbroker licenses)
• Parking Lot
• Towing
• Vending License (Active starting March 13th, 2026)
• Mobile Vehicle Vendors*
• Mobile Peddler*
• Stationary Vendors*
• One-Day Solicitation (Tag Day)
• Ticket Reselling

• * This license type will be replaced by the Vending License after the March 13th, 2026 rollout of the City's new Vending Program. All existing licenses of this type will be reissued as Vending Licenses at that time. Please refer to the Vending Program License Transition document for guidance on that process.

Additional Information

• All licenses expire 365 days from the date of issuance. Business license holders who allow their license to expire will be charged a late fee after the date of expiration.
• All applications must be fully completed to be processed. An incomplete application will be returned to the applicant.
• Effective May 14th, 2022, PLI will no longer be accepting applications for Transient Merchant, Trade Fair, Mechanical Amusement Devices, and Amusement Places and Producer licenses, as well as the Sign Maintenance Certifications.
• Effective March 12, 2026, PLI will no longer be accepting applications for Mobile Vehicle Vendor License, Peddler License, and Stationary Vendor License. Please see the Vending Program Rules and Regulations for more information on vending in the City, and see the Vending Program License Transition document for an explanation of what is happening with existing PLI Vending licenses.

Fee Schedule

All Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections fees change annually. Please consult the Current Fee Schedule below.

The permit and license fees for the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections undergo periodic adjustments. Please consult the current year Fee Schedule.

Fee Schedule

Note once a permit or license has been issued, refunds are not provided.

last updated: 03/13/2026