Iowa
Cottage Food Law
Iowa has two different laws for home cooks, depending on what they want to make. Producers that sell only non-potentially hazardous food products do not need any license or permit from the health department, but they can only sell at home or at farmers markets. There are no sales limitations, and the labeling requirements are very basic.
Producers who want to sell perishable baked goods, or want to sell baked goods at other venues, need to become a Home Food Establishment.
Selling
You can sell baked goods at more venues by becoming a Home Food Establishment.
Starting a cottage food business?
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Allowed Foods
Perishable baked goods can be sold by becoming a Home Food Establishment.
Limitations
Business
Although no license from the health department is required, there may be other local requirements, like a business license. Certain types of products are exempt from sales tax.
Labeling
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Forrager Cookie Company
123 Chewy Way, Cookietown, IA 73531
Resources
- Department
- Department of Inspections and Appeals
- Telephone
- 515-281-6538
Comments
Nightengale
Are wedding mints, commonly known as cream cheese mints, allowed to be sold at the Farmers Market? They do not require refrigeration. Under the cottage food law in Minnesota I know that they are. But I do not know if they are or are not in Iowa. Please let me know. Sincerely Debra Nightingale
Celeste Neff
Hi, can I make and sell Hot Pepper Jelly here in Iowa? I am interested in making it from my home, but the information stated that low acid/sugar jellies may not be permitted.
Thank you!
Daniel Koehn
What are the requirements for selling home boiled maple syrup out of my home ?? Can I legally sell it without any license ?
Georgeanne Wilson
Why are roadside market is not allowable under the cottage.? The farmers market’s will be finished but I will have wonderful produce well after the season to be sold and now I have no venue to sell it… Are there alternatives?
Nicholas
I want to sell federally inspected beef that I raise by the frozen package, out of my home how can I find out what the minimum requirements are for the facility to get inspected? Want to start with just freezer space basically, no processing of raw will be done.