Pennsylvania · Fishing license
Do I need a fishing license in Pennsylvania?
Yes — anyone 16 or older needs one.
A year costs $27.97 if you live here and $60.97 if you don't.
What it costs
If you live in Pennsylvania
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Resident, annual (16 to 64)Needs proof of residency. The trout and Lake Erie permits are separate. | $27.97 |
| Senior resident, annual (65 and up) | $14.47 |
| Senior resident, lifetime (65 and up)One-time purchase. | $86.97 |
| Resident, 1 dayNot valid between March 15 and April 30. | $14.47 |
| Disabled veteran, reduced rateFor a service-connected disability rated 60 to 99 percent. | $2.97 |
If you're visiting
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Non-resident, annual | $60.97 |
| Out-of-state student in PA, annualFor students attending school in Pennsylvania who have not become residents. | $27.97 |
| Tourist, 1 dayNot valid between March 15 and April 30. No trout or Lake Erie permit needed with this one. | $31.97 |
| Tourist, 3 days | $31.97 |
| Tourist, 7 days | $39.47 |
Every price already includes PFBC's issuing agent fee of $1.00 and a 97-cent transaction fee — that is why the totals end in .97 or .47. A replacement license with previously bought permits costs $6.97, or nothing if you reprint it online.
How long it lasts
The 2026 license runs from December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026 — up to 13 months if you buy early. PFBC puts the next year's licenses on sale each December.
Who doesn't need one
- An adult helping a child 15 or younger cast or retrieve, as long as the child stays within arm's reach and is actively fishing
- Landowners and family members living on their land year-round, fishing that land
- People who are totally blind, or whose impairment prevents casting, retrieving, baiting or removing fish — one legal device, and within 10 feet of it
- Pennsylvania residents on active military duty, stationed outside the state and home on authorised leave, carrying proof
- Under 16: no trout permit or Lake Erie permit needed
- Holders of a 1-day tourist license: no trout permit or Lake Erie permit needed
PFBC words the age rule this way: PFBC: "A current license, on their person, is required of persons age 16 and over to fish or angle for any species of fish." There is no upper age exemption in Pennsylvania — residents 65 and over get a reduced price instead.
Where to buy it
- Online at HuntFish.PA.gov
- At more than 700 license-issuing agents across the state
- At county treasurer offices
- At PFBC offices
Wondering about the big retailers? A shop like Walmart sells the state's license at the state's price — it sets none of its own.
Days you can fish without one
