Iowa Home Bakery Can you legally sell food from home in Iowa?
Cottage Food Law
Unlike most states, Iowa allows home bakers to sell many types of baked goods, including perishable baked goods, like cheesecakes, cream pies, and cakes with cream fillings. Home bakeries can sell their baked goods at any venue, but they are limited to $35,000 of sales per year. An annual license and inspection are required.
In addition to this law, Iowa has a cottage food law that allows home cooks to sell almost any kind of non-perishable food without special licensing, but products can only be sold from home or at farmers markets.
In 2016, a new bill (SF 2273) increased the sales limit from $20k to $35k, and changed the term for these businesses from “home food establishments” to “home bakeries”.
Selling Where can you sell homemade food products?
Allowed Foods What food products can you sell from home?
This law only allows you to sell baked goods, including many types of perishable baked goods, like cheesecakes. You cannot sell baked goods that contain meat.
However, you can sell other types of non-perishable foods from home and at farmers markets by using Iowa’s cottage food law.
Limitations How will your home food business be restricted?
Pets are never allowed in your kitchen or in any room where food for your business is stored.
Sales must be recorded, and the record must be made available if the Department of Inspections and Appeals requests it.
Business What do you need to do to sell food from home?
You need to get a Home Bakery License from the Department of Inspections and Appeals, which costs $50 each year.
You must get your home kitchen inspected before starting you business.
If you do not use a public water system, your private well must be tested annually. You must maintain a record of your water tests.
Some products require the collection of sales tax, while others are exempt. Check out Iowa’s list of taxable and exempt products to learn more.
Labeling How do you label cottage food products?
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Forrager Cookie Company
123 Chewy Way, Cookietown, IA 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)
Workplace Are there any home kitchen requirements?
There are many workplace requirements in the law.
Resources Where can you find more information about this law?
- Department
- Department of Inspections and Appeals
- Telephone
- 515-281-6538
- Address
- Lucas State Office Building, Third Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083
Tina 
ODAI JORDAN
Amy
Tyler
Brenn
Comments
Kate
I would like to sell macarons with buttercream filling at farmers market. What licensing or permits would I need?
Michelle Baker
I would like to sell coffee by the cup from home and at events. What licensing is needed for this?
Katie Schaapveld
What do I need for licensing for making uncooked premixed oatmeal and selling them labelled in packages to retail stores?
thomas specht
Do I need a commercial kitchen to sell cheese? or would the Home food establishment cover this?
Coty
Wondering if u can sell Real Homeade Butter n Flavored Butter from Home Kitchen n Farmers Markets here in Iowa??