Cottage food rules
Cottage Food License in Nevada: What Home Bakers Need
What Nevada asks of home bakers before you sell, in plain words.
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What to remember
- Nevada’s cottage food law started with SB 206 in 2013.
- You register as a cottage food operation before selling.
- Only a limited list of shelf-stable foods is allowed, and baked goods must be non-potentially-hazardous.
- Your local health authority handles the details, so check with them directly.
- One source lists a $35,000 income limit for Nevada cottage food sales. Confirm the current figure with your health authority.
If you bake from your home kitchen and sell to neighbors, this is the set of rules that decides what you may sell and how you register. Read it before you take your first order, not after. If you want to see how other states handle the same question, our guide to cottage food laws websites shows where the official rules live for each state.
What Nevada allows you to sell
The allowed list is short and shelf-stable. According to cottagefoodlicense.com, Nevada cottage foods include non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, and nuts and nut mixes. The key phrase is non-potentially-hazardous. That generally means foods that do not need refrigeration to stay safe. Anything with a cream filling, a custard, or a meat filling is not in that group. If you are unsure whether one of your bakes fits, ask your health authority before you sell it.
How registration works
Nevada’s cottage food bill, SB 206, was signed by the Governor in 2013 and written into the Nevada Revised Statutes. The Southern Nevada Health District explains that this is what allows certain foods to be made in a home kitchen. In practice, you register as a cottage food operation with your local health authority. Which office you deal with depends on where you live, so start there rather than with a statewide form. Fees, paperwork, and any labeling requirements come from that office.
Find your health authority
Look up the health district or authority that covers your county. That office registers cottage food operations in your area.
Ask for the cottage food packet
Request the current registration form, the allowed food list, and the labeling rules in writing.
Check your menu against the list
Go through every item you plan to sell and confirm it is shelf-stable and allowed.
Register before you sell
Send in the form and fee, and keep your confirmation somewhere you can find it.
Label your bakes
Follow the labeling rules your health authority gives you, including the cottage food statement they require.
What to keep in mind once you are selling
Two things are worth knowing. First, NRS 446.870 makes it a prohibited act to operate a food establishment without a valid permit from the health authority, so the registration step is not optional. Second, NRS 580 says the food safety authority may inspect a cottage food operation only to investigate a food item that may be deemed adulterated. That is a narrow reason, but it is still a reason someone could knock. Keep your kitchen clean, keep records of what you made and when, and you will have nothing to scramble for. One source also lists a $35,000 income limit on Nevada cottage food sales. Treat that as a question to ask your health authority, since limits change. If you are still working out what to charge, how to price your bakes walks through the math, and our home bakery app roundup covers tools for taking orders.
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Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my home in Nevada?
Nevada requires you to register as a cottage food operation before selling certain shelf-stable homemade foods. Your local health authority handles that registration and can tell you the current requirements and fees.
What foods can I sell as a Nevada cottage food operation?
According to cottagefoodlicense.com, the allowed list includes non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, and nuts and nut mixes. Anything that needs refrigeration is outside that list.
Is there an income limit for Nevada cottage food sales?
One source lists a $35,000 income limit. Limits can change, so confirm the current figure with your local health authority before you plan around it.
When did Nevada's cottage food law start?
The Nevada Legislature passed SB 206 in May 2013, and the bill was signed by the Governor and written into the Nevada Revised Statutes.
Will my kitchen get inspected?
NRS 580 provides that the food safety authority may inspect a cottage food operation only to investigate a food item that may be deemed adulterated. Your health authority can explain what that means in practice.
Sources
This is general information about Nevada cottage food rules, not legal or tax advice. Requirements and fees are set by your local health authority and can change. Confirm the current rules with them before you sell.