Cottage food rules
Home Bakery License in Georgia: What You Need to Know
What changed for Georgia home bakers in 2025, and the short list of what you still have to do.
What to remember
- No state cottage food license and no licensing fee since July 1, 2025.
- Food safety training and proper labels are still required.
- You can now sell to grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants, not only directly to customers.
- On a private septic system, check with your county health department before you start.
If you have been holding off on selling because you thought a state license had to come first, that has changed. The rules for a home bakery in Georgia were rewritten in 2025, and a lot of what still shows up online describes the old system. Here is what applies to you now, and what you still need to handle before your first paid order. For the fuller picture of what you can bake and sell, read cottage food regulations in Georgia.
What changed on July 1, 2025
House Bill 398 took effect on July 1, 2025 and brought important updates to Georgia’s cottage food program. The biggest one for you is that the state licensing requirement for home-based food producers was removed. The cottage food license is gone, and the licensing fee is gone with it. That means the license and the fee are simply no longer part of getting started in your own kitchen.
What you still have to do
No license does not mean no rules. A Georgia home baker making shelf-stable goods needs no state license as of July 1, 2025, but still needs food safety training and proper labels. Those two things are what stand between you and selling legally, so treat them as your real to do list.
Confirm your bakes are covered
The no-license rule is described for shelf-stable goods. Check that what you plan to sell fits before you print a single label.
Do the food safety training
Training is still required even though the license is not. Finish it before you take your first paid order.
Get your labels right
Proper labels are still required on what you sell. Build them into your packing routine so nothing leaves your kitchen without one.
Check your septic system
If your home runs on a private septic system, contact your county health department to confirm the system is acceptable.
Selling to shops and restaurants
The 2025 update also widened where your bakes can go. Home-based cottage food producers in Georgia can now sell to retail stores, including grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants, on top of selling directly to customers. That gives you a second way to earn: a standing weekly order from a local cafe, or a spot on the shelf at a corner shop, instead of only weekend pickups.
Wholesale changes your math. Before you agree to a standing order, work out what each batch truly costs you, so a bigger order does not turn into a pile of work for very little. Our guide to what a home bakery license costs covers the fees and extras that come with getting set up, and Forrager cottage food laws is a handy way to double check your state rules the next time they shift.
One small habit worth starting now: keep a copy of the state page showing the current rules, with the date on it. If a customer, a shop or a market manager asks why you have no license on the wall, you can show them exactly what changed and when.
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Common questions
Do I need a cottage food license in Georgia?
No. Georgia removed the cottage food license and the licensing fee for home-based food producers effective July 1, 2025 under House Bill 398. A home baker making shelf-stable goods needs no state license.
What do I still need before I sell?
Food safety training and proper labels. The license is gone, but those two requirements are not.
Can I sell my bakes to a grocery store or restaurant?
Yes. Georgia cottage food sellers can now sell to grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants in addition to selling directly.
What if my home is on a private septic system?
Contact your county health department to confirm the system is acceptable before you start selling.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with the Georgia Department of Agriculture or your county health department before you sell.