Ohio Home Bakery Can you legally sell food from home in Ohio?

Cottage Food Law

Although Ohio has a good cottage food law, it has another law which allows home bakers to sell perishable baked goods, like cheesecakes and cream pies. Home bakeries can also use the cottage food law to sell certain non-baked products, though those sales would need to adhere to that law’s stricter rules.

Home bakeries must be licensed and inspected annually, but they can sell at any venue, and they can sell their products across state lines. However, pets can never be allowed into a home bakery, so this law isn’t for everyone.

Table of Contents

Selling Allowed Foods Limitations Business Labeling Workplace Resources Forum

Selling Where can you sell homemade food products?

Allowed Venues

Events Farmers markets Home Online Restaurants Retail stores Roadside stands

Allowed Services

Delivery Mail order Home Pickup

Allowed Foods What food products can you sell from home?

Limitations How will your home food business be restricted?

Limitations

Commercial equipment prohibited Pets prohibited

There may be more limitations, but the ones above have been confirmed

There is no sales limit

Your kitchen may only have one oven or double oven.

You can sell your products to other states.

Business What do you need to do to sell food from home?

Kitchen Inspection

Before getting your inspection, make sure that there is no carpet in your kitchen, and all surfaces (including ceilings) are easily cleanable. If you have a pet, it must always be kept outside. Your refrigerator needs to be equipped with a thermometer.

You must also have product labels on-hand for the inspector to review.

When you are ready for your inspection, you can setup an appointment by calling the Food Safety Division at 800-282-1955 ext 4366.

Home Bakery License

When your inspection is complete, your inspector will give you an application for a home bakery license. The license fee is $10, and it must be renewed annually on September 30th.

Private well testing

If you have a private well, it must be tested before your kitchen gets inspected. After you start your business, your well must be tested annually.

Labeling How do you label cottage food products?

Label Requirements

Business address Business name Ingredients Net amount Product name

Sample Label

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Forrager Cookie Company

123 Chewy Way, Cookietown, OH 73531

Ingredients: enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (cream, salt), semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract (vanilla bean extract, alcohol, sugar), baking soda, salt (salt, calcium silicate)

NET WT 2 lb 4 oz (1.02 kg)

Products that require refrigeration must also have “Keep Refrigerated” on the label.

If the business name is listed in a local telephone directory, the street address may be omitted or replaced with a PO box.

If a nutritional claim is made on the label, a nutrition facts panel must be included.

Labeling Info & Sample