Cottage Food Law /US
A structured reference to state cottage food rules

United States · OH

Ohio

Cottage Food Production (and separate Home Bakery license)

Informational only — not legal advice. Verify every requirement with the official agency cited below before producing or selling food.

At a glance

Administering agency
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), Division of Food Safety

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Permit required
No

No license required for Cottage Food. A separate Home Bakery license is required for items containing baked-in dairy or eggs that require refrigeration.

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

License cost
None

Cottage Food: $0. Home Bakery license is separate and not covered here.

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Annual sales cap
None

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Training required
No

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Home inspection
No

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Permit details

How it works
Ohio Cottage Food does not require registration, license, or inspection. A Home Bakery license (with inspection) is required to produce baked goods containing fillings or ingredients that require refrigeration.

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Allowed foods

Allowed
  • Non-potentially hazardous baked goods (cookies, brownies, fruit pies, breads)
  • Candy (excluding fudge or chocolate requiring temperature control)
  • Fruit jams and jellies
  • Granola and granola bars
  • Dry herbs, seasoning blends, dry baking mixes
  • Popcorn, caramel popcorn, popcorn balls
  • Roasted coffee beans
  • Waffle cones and pizzelles

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Prohibited
  • Meat, poultry, fish, shellfish
  • Cream, custard, or meringue pies
  • Cheesecake and cream-cheese-frosted items
  • Pumpkin pies
  • Salsa, pickles, low-acid canned goods
  • Beverages other than dry coffee/tea

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Labeling requirements

On every package
  • Name of the food product
  • Name and address of the cottage food production operation
  • Ingredients in descending order by weight
  • Net weight
  • Allergen disclosure
  • Statement (10-pt type): "This product is home-produced."

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Sales channels

Where you can sell
  • In person: Yes
  • Farmers market: Yes
  • Online (in-state): Yes
  • Online (out-of-state shipping): No
  • Delivery (in-state): Yes
  • Retail / wholesale resale: Yes
  • Cottage food may be sold to retail stores within Ohio. Out-of-state sales are not authorized.

Source: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/food-safety/resources/home-bakery-cottage-food · Verified Sep 25, 2025

Caveats

  • The Home Bakery program (separate license) covers products requiring temperature control.
  • Local zoning may still apply.

Official sources

Page last reviewed: 2025-09-25

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