Cottage food rules
Home Bakery License in Kentucky: What You Need
A clear look at the Kentucky registration, the fee, and the local checks to make before you bake to sell.
On this page
What to remember
- Start with the DFS-250 Application for Home-based Processor.
- The registration fee set in 902 KAR 045:090 is $50.
- Use the CHFS Home-Based Processing page for allowed products, selling methods, standards, and labels.
- Check your county and Kentucky Business One Stop for local or other permits.
- Read the application closely: Kentucky says you accept responsibility for your product and the safety of the people who eat it.
If you bake at home and sell what you make, the state rules are the first thing to get clear. Kentucky’s Food Safety Branch keeps a Home-Based Processing page with the current details. If you are comparing nearby states, our Indiana guide and Illinois guide show how those states handle it. Kentucky has its own form and fee, so start there.
What Kentucky asks for
The CHFS Home-Based Processing page has the most current information on registration, allowable products, permitted selling methods, operating standards, and labeling requirements. Read it before you print the form. The form is the DFS-250 Application for Home-based Processor. Under 902 KAR 045:090, you can get it from the Kentucky Food Safety Branch or a University of Kentucky Extension Service Office. The same rule sets a $50 registration fee.
How to start your registration
Get the right form
Ask the Kentucky Food Safety Branch or a University of Kentucky Extension Service Office for the DFS-250 Application for Home-based Processor.
Read the state page first
Use the CHFS Home-Based Processing page to check allowable products, permitted selling methods, operating standards, and labeling requirements before you fill anything in.
Fill out the application
Complete the DFS-250. The application instructions say that by becoming a Home-Based Processor you accept responsibility for your product and the safety of those who consume it.
Pay the fee
902 KAR 045:090 sets the registration fee at $50. Follow the Food Safety Branch’s directions for submitting the form and fee.
Check the local side
Contact your county and use Kentucky Business One Stop to see what other federal, state, or local permits may apply where you live.
Check your county and other permits
Kentucky Business One Stop says most businesses need at least one federal, state, or local license or permit, and that requirements vary by industry, local rules, and location. Franklin County publishes a flyer with information about local requirements for home-based bakery businesses operating in the county. Your county may not be Franklin, but the same question is worth asking: what does my county require before I sell from my home kitchen? Call or check with your county before your first order.
The annual permit rule
KRS 217.125 says no person shall operate a food processing establishment without having obtained an annual permit to operate from the cabinet. If you are not sure whether that rule reaches your home baking operation, ask the Kentucky Food Safety Branch before you sell. Do not rely on a rumor or a social post for this one. Get the answer from the cabinet.
When you are ready to take orders, our home bakery app roundup can help you compare ways to run your shop. The important thing is to get the Kentucky registration and your county checks settled first, then build the part that brings in money.
Common questions
Do I need a license or a registration in Kentucky?
Kentucky uses a Home-Based Processor registration for home baking. The application is the DFS-250, and the fee set in 902 KAR 045:090 is $50.
How much does the Kentucky home bakery registration cost?
The registration fee set in 902 KAR 045:090 is $50.
Where do I get the DFS-250 form?
Under 902 KAR 045:090, the DFS-250 Application for Home-based Processor is available from the Kentucky Food Safety Branch or a University of Kentucky Extension Service Office.
What can I sell from my home bakery in Kentucky?
The CHFS Home-Based Processing page covers allowable products, permitted selling methods, operating standards, and labeling requirements. Check that page before you plan a menu or print labels.
Do county rules apply to home bakeries in Kentucky?
Kentucky Business One Stop says requirements vary by industry, local rules, and location. Franklin County publishes a flyer about local requirements for home-based bakery businesses, so check your own county too.
Is there an annual permit for food processing in Kentucky?
KRS 217.125 says a food processing establishment shall not operate without an annual permit from the cabinet. If you are unsure whether it applies to your home operation, ask the Kentucky Food Safety Branch.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules and local requirements can change. Confirm with the Kentucky Food Safety Branch, your county, and Kentucky Business One Stop before you sell.