The Business Development Portal provides you with all of the information you need to plan, start, manage, and grow your business in the City of Harrisburg.
Welcome to the Business Development Portal
The Business Development Portal provides you with all of the information you need to plan, start, manage, and grow your business in the City of Harrisburg. Try our Start Up Guide to quickly map out how to register your new business and be compliant. Explore a rich library of content and resources to help you manage and grow your business. Small businesses are essential to our city’s economy. The Business Development Portal is here to make sure you have everything you need to succeed.
ChooseHBG – Local Spending Campaign
The City of Harrisburg is launching an initiative to encourage people, businesses, and local government to prioritize local spending for products and services. This campaign, known as “Choose Harrisburg” (#ChooseHBG), focuses on shifting more dining, purchasing, contracting, and investing to local entrepreneurs.
Please feel free to submit all City of Harrisburg business related inquiries to:
businessdevelopment@harrisburgpa.gov
- Business Resources
- City Resources
- Licensing & Permitting
- Planning & Zoning
- Tax Abatement
- Solicitations
- Workshops
- African-American Chamber of Commerce
- Visit Website
- Keystone Business Alliance - Central PA’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- Visit Website
- Downtown Improvement District
- Visit Website
- Harrisburg Regional Chamber/CREDC
- Visit website
- Harrisburg Young Professionals
- Visit website
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Visit Website
- Kutztown University SBDC
- Visit Website
- Pennsylvania Diversity Coalition
- Visit Website
- SBA of PA
- Visit Website
- Susquehanna Score
- Visit Website
- Bureau of Business Development
- Visit Page
- Bureau of Community and Economic Development
- Visit Page
- Codes Enforcement
- Visit Page
- Office of the Mayor
- Visit Page
- Bureau of Parks and Recreation
- Visit Page
- Bureau of Planning
- Visit Page
- Department of Public Works
- Visit Page
Licensing & Permitting
A BUSINESS PRIVILEGE AND MERCANTILE LICENSE is required of all businesses doing trade within the City of Harrisburg, whether you are headquartered here or elsewhere.
Anyone establishing a business located in the City of Harrisburg is required to obtain a BUSINESS ZONING/FIRE PREVENTION PERMIT. This will show that your business is legitimate at your location and that it meets the Fire Code.
If you are vending on a sidewalk or elsewhere outdoors, you also need to obtain a VENDOR’S LICENSE and an OWNER’S CONSENT FORM, and anyone providing food or drink of any type must have a HEALTH LICENSE. All applications are available online or you can apply in person at the Tax & Enforcement Office, Room 305-A of City Hall.
- Starting A New Business In Harrisburg
- Download The Guide
- Register Your Business
- Get Started
Planning & Zoning
Before selecting a business location, be sure to review the interactive zoning map, Zoning Code, and/or schedule a meeting with our Planning Bureau to discuss your needs.
The Bureau of Planning promotes orderly future growth and development in the City through long-range comprehensive planning and enforcement of zoning, historic district, and floodplain regulations.
Our staff works diligently to promote and facilitate physical development plans, to preserve and enhance districts of historical and architectural significance, and to develop and apply the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS) to all areas of development including the identification of all pertinent physical attributes of a property (floodplain, historic district, and zoning).
L.E.R.T.A Overview
Created Dec. 1, 1977 authorizing local taxing authorities to provide for tax exemption for certain deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business property and for new construction in deteriorated areas of economically depressed communities; providing for an exemption schedule and establishing standards and qualifications. The City of Harrisburg, in an effort to promote and encourage new development as well as rehabilitation of existing structures, has enabled the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement Program. This is based on the passing of bill NO. 18 – 2014 NO. 4 of Session 2015, passed May 12, 2015. The City’s believes that this tool will assist in the eventual tax base increase, the creation of jobs and aid in the overall redevelopment of the City. The Harrisburg City School district and Dauphin County have each passed the same resolution.
L.E.R.T.A Eligibility Requirements
All properties within the City of Harrisburg shall be eligible for improvement. The owner of any property (commercial/residential) is eligible for tax abatement on property tax increases resulting from the redevelopment or substantial improvement of a property which results in the reassessment of the property by Dauphin County. Any person and or business owning a property within the City is eligible to apply for this program, with any award provided will be done so in compliance with all sections of these guidelines.
Application Process
Tax Abatement 2016 – 2024 Application for Exemption may be obtained from the Bureau of Codes Administration or through the City of Harrisburg’s website: http://harrisburgpa.gov/ . L.E.R.T.A applications can be submitted up to 10 business days after the building permit is issued, but not after construction has begun, is completed and or a certificate of occupancy has already been issued. If you should have any questions regarding the tax abatement program and or additional eligibility requirements, please inquire with the City of Harrisburg’s Department of Community and Economic Development; Director of Business Development, Jamal Jones. at (717) 255.7268.
Current Solicitations
POSITIONING YOUR BUSINESS FOR SUCCESS (IN A CROWDED MARKET)
This hands-on workshop will help you develop the strong positioning strategies critical to businesses competing in crowded markets. Seating is limited to 40 people. All workshops are free to the public and first come first served. Sign up for a class by clicking the link below! Or view flyer here.