Permits Needed to Open a Home Bakery
Permits required to open a home bakery vary from state to state, with some requiring several permits and others requiring no permits at all. The guide below is intended to assist you with identifying your state’s requirements.
Please note that we work hard to keep this as updated as possible but requirements do change frequently. Please make sure you access the provided website links to stay up to date on your state’s law and please reach out to us if you find information on this page that needs to be updated.
Business License Required?
Cottage Food License?
Food Safety Course?
Additional Permits or Requirements
Alabama
Business License? Check with your regional food safety and quality agent. Click here to access.
Cottage Food Permit? Yes. You must access your regional food safety and quality agent. Click here to access.
Food Safety Course? Yes, please visit this link
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but always check your state laws.
Arizona
Business License? In some cases. Please visit this link. Contact your city/county for more information.
Cottage Food Permit?Yes, please visit this link
Food Safety Course? Yes, please visit this link
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but always check your state laws
Alaska
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? No permit currently needed. Please visit this link for updates.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but always check your state laws
Arkansas
Business License? Some cities require and some do not. Check with your city office / county office to confirm
Cottage Food Permit? Not at this time. Read guidelines at this link.
Food Safety Course? Not at this time
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but always check your state laws
California
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes. You must contact the Local Environmental Office for your specific county. Please read more here.
Food Safety Course? Yes. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Seller’s Permit in some instances. Please visit this link.
Colorado
Business License? In some cases. Please visit this link.
Cottage Food Permit? Not at this time. Read guidelines at this link.
Food Safety Course? Yes, must either complete a food safety training or obtain a food handler’s card or attend training at your local health department.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Varies. Confirm at this link.
Connecticut
Business License? Please visit this link
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, please visit this link
Food Safety Course? Yes, please visit this link
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but always check your state laws
Delaware
Business License? Must register the business with the state by submitting a cottage food application.
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, apply at this link You may also want to visit the Delaware Information Sheet.
Food Safety Course? Yes, please visit this link
Additional Permits or Requirements? Requires home inspection. Stay up to date with your law’s at this link.
Florida
Business License? No, but local city and county offices can vary so contact them to confirm
Cottage Food Permit? Not required at this time
Food Safety Course? Not required at this time
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay updated at this link
Georgia
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, please visit this link
Food Safety Course? Yes, food handler’s card. Click here
Additional Permits or Requirements? Requires home inspection. Also requires Sales and Use Tax Registration. Click here
Stay up to date with your state’s laws at this link.
Hawaii
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not required. Visit this link for more information pertaining to Hawaii’s guidelines.
Food Safety Course? Yes, please visit this link
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay updated at this link
Idaho
Business License? Idaho requires you to contact your county or city office to verify
Cottage Food Permit? Not required. Visit this link for more information pertaining to Idaho’s guidelines.
Food Safety Course? Not required at this time
Additional Permits or Requirements? Idaho requires you to complete the Cottage Foods Assessment Form and have it signed by the Environmental Health Specialist
Illinois
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, you must contact the health department at your specific county to register your cottage food business
Food Safety Course? Yes, the Certified Food Protection Manager. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Contact the health department in your city or county to verify. Stay up to date on your state’s laws at this link.
Indiana
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not required
Food Safety Course? Yes, Food Handler’s Permit if selling in the community via a farmer’s market or other venue. Click here
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws.
Iowa
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? No, but the law is specific so please read this information.
Food Safety Course? Not for cottage food law bakers
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws
Kansas
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not required at this time. Kansas does not currently have a cottage food law.
Food Safety Course? Not required at this time
Additional Permits or Requirements? None at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws.
Kentucky
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, please click here
Food Safety Course? Not at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws
Louisiana
Business License? Yes, please click here
Cottage Food Permit? No but must obtain a Louisiana General Sales Tax Certificate
Food Safety Course? Not at this time
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws
Maine
Business License? Varies. Verify at this link
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, a home food license or mobile vendor license. Click here
Food Safety Course? Not at this time.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay up to date at on your state’s laws
Maryland
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Only required if planning to sell wholesale. Please read here
Food Safety Course? Only required if planning to sell wholesale. Please refer to your state’s law.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws.
Massachusetts
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, please visit this link
Food Safety Course? Dependent on the region. Check with your city/county.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Requires home inspection. Additional permits dependent on the region. Check with your city/county. Stay up to date with your state’s laws at this link.
Michigan
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay up to date on your state’s laws.
Minnesota
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required but you must register your business. Visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Yes please visit this link
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not at this time but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Mississippi
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Missouri
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Montana
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? No permit required but must register business. Visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Nebraska
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Permit not required but must register business. Visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Yes. Must take a food safety course. Visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Nevada
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, a permit is required but can vary from county to county. Please visit this link.
Food Safety Course? required but recommended
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
New Hampshire
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
New Jersey
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Yes, a permit is required. Please visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Food Protection Manager Certification required. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
New Mexico
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not required in most areas but confirm with your city/county.
Food Safety Course? Food handler card required. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
New York
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not required but you must register your business. Please visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Varies. Verify with your local county or city
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
North Carolina
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Requires application to be submitted. Visit this link.
Must also contact town/city zoning committee to ensure home based businesses are allowed in your area.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
North Dakota
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Ohio
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Oklahoma
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Oklahoma laws were updated in 2021. Please visit this link for the most current information.
Food Safety Course?
For bakers selling temperature controlled foods. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Oregon
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? No permit required per Oregon’s Home Baking Bill
Food Safety Course? Food handler’s card required. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Pennsylvania
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Does not currently have a cottage food law but allows home bakers to sell under the Limited Food Establishment Program. Must submit a Plan Review Application.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Must have home inspection. Must also have a sales tax license. Read this guide. Access Pennsylvania’s laws pertaining to home bakeries here.
Rhode Island
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Permit required. Applications are submitted at this link.
Food Safety Course? Must submit a Food Safety Manager Course. Visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
South Carolina
Business License? No state-wide business licenses for SC. Must apply at your local city/county by visiting this link.
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
South Dakota
Business License? Must get a local business license in your city/county. Please visit this link.
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required. Please see this link.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Tennessee
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Texas
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required.
Food Safety Course? Must obtain a food handler’s permit. Visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Utah
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? No permit required but must submit an application. Visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Vermont
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Food Safety Course? Varies on permit type. Not typically required home bakeries but must comply with states health regulations. See this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Virginia
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required. Please visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Washington
Business License? Must obtain a business license at this link.
Cottage Food Permit? Permit required. Please visit this link.
Food Safety Course? Must obtain a Food Worker’s Card. Please visit this link.
Additional Permits or Requirements? Must submit a floor plan and home inspection. Stay up to date with your state’s laws.
West Virginia
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Wisconsin
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? Not currently required
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.
Wyoming
Business License? Verify with your local county or city
Cottage Food Permit? No permit required. Please see this link.
Food Safety Course? Not currently required
Additional Permits or Requirements? Not currently required but stay up to date with your state’s laws.