Cottage food rules
Ohio Cottage Food Laws: What Home Bakers Can Sell
A plain answer on what Ohio lets you bake at home and sell, and what to put on the label.
On this page
What to remember
- You bake at home and sell food that is not potentially hazardous.
- No license, no fee, and no inspection for non perishable items.
- Acidified foods, low acid canned foods, and potentially hazardous foods are off limits.
- Your labels must meet the state labeling requirements.
If you are already taking orders from neighbors and friends, this is the page to read before you print a single label. The rules are set out in Chapter 3715 of the Ohio Revised Code, and they are shorter than most bakers expect. If you want to see how another state words the same idea, our guide to New Mexico cottage food laws walks through a similar path.
What Ohio calls a cottage food operation
Under Chapter 3715 of the Ohio Revised Code, a cottage food production operation is a person who, in the person’s home, produces food items that are not potentially hazardous foods. That definition is the whole gate. If what you make is not potentially hazardous and you make it at home, you are in the cottage food lane rather than the licensed food processing lane.
The practical side matters as much as the legal side. Ohio’s cottage food path requires no license, no fee, and no inspection for non perishable items, which means you can start small, test a few recipes on real customers, and grow at your own pace without paperwork standing in the way.
What you cannot make and sell
Ohio Revised Code Section 3715.025 states that a cottage food production operation shall not process acidified foods, low acid canned foods, or potentially hazardous foods. Those three categories are the line. If a recipe depends on canning, on acidifying, or on staying out of the temperature danger zone to be safe, it is not a cottage food item in Ohio.
Bakers who also sell in other states sometimes keep two lists, one for home and one for travel. Our guide to cottage food laws in Indiana is a useful comparison if you sell across the line.
Labels and getting paid
Ohio Revised Code Section 3715.023 sets out labeling requirements for a cottage food production operation, a processor, or a beekeeper. Read that section before you order stickers or print cards, because the label is where most home bakers get caught out, not the baking. Build the label once, keep the file, and reuse it on every box.
On the money side, keep your prices honest against your real costs so a busy week actually pays you. Our guide on how to price your bakes shows how to cost a batch before you set a number.
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A simple way to start in Ohio
Write down what you make
List every item you want to sell and check each one against the three banned categories in Section 3715.025.
Confirm your home base
Make sure the food is produced in your home, since that is what the Chapter 3715 definition turns on.
Build your label
Follow the labeling requirements in Section 3715.023 and keep one master file you can print from.
Set your prices
Cost each recipe properly so your price covers ingredients, packaging, and your time.
Take orders
Start with the people already asking, then widen out as you find your rhythm.
The law sets the edges, but the day to day is yours: which bakes you offer, how you package them, and how you talk about them. Keep your list of items inside the rules and the rest is craft. For a look at how another state handles the same questions, see cottage food laws for Washington state.
Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my Ohio home?
Ohio's cottage food production operation path requires no license, no fee, and no inspection for non perishable items. The food still has to be produced in your home and must not be potentially hazardous.
Can I sell canned goods or low acid foods?
No. Ohio Revised Code Section 3715.025 says a cottage food production operation shall not process acidified foods, low acid canned foods, or potentially hazardous foods.
What has to be on my label?
Ohio Revised Code Section 3715.023 sets out the labeling requirements for a cottage food production operation, a processor, or a beekeeper. Check that section before you print.
When did these rules take effect?
Section 3715.025 took effect September 10, 2012, with House Bill 487 of the 129th General Assembly as the latest legislation.
Where can I read the rules myself?
Chapter 3715 of the Ohio Revised Code covers cottage food production operations, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture publishes cottage food guidance on its food safety pages.
Sources
This is general information about Ohio cottage food rules, not legal or tax advice. Rules can change. Confirm the details with the Ohio Department of Agriculture or a qualified professional before you sell.