Cottage food rules
Home Bakery License in Tennessee: What You Need
Know which Tennessee permit to ask for before you sell your first bake.
On this page
What to remember
- The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is the office to start with.
- A Domestic Kitchen Permit is typically what a home bakery needs.
- The Tennessee Food Freedom Act is also called the Tennessee Cottage Food Law or the Cottage Food Industry Act.
- All food manufacturers in Tennessee must be licensed under the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Chapter 0080-04-13.
- County and city rules can differ, especially on zoning.
The confusing part is not the baking. It is the paperwork, and the fact that two different names get used for what sounds like the same thing. Read the rules for your own kitchen before you take a single order, and if you are still comparing states, our guide to home bakery license requirements lays out the questions to ask anywhere.
Which permit applies to your kitchen
Tennessee’s cottage food law allows home based bakers and cooks to legally sell their kitchen creations, provided they follow a set of clear rules. That law is the Tennessee Food Freedom Act, sometimes called the Cottage Food Industry Act. Separately, the state says every food manufacturer in Tennessee must hold a license under the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Chapter 0080-04-13. A Domestic Kitchen Permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is typically what a home bakery operates under. Ask the department which of these covers what you plan to sell, and get the answer before you print labels.
How to get set up, step by step
Call the Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Ask which permit or license applies to a home kitchen selling baked goods. Write down the name of whoever you speak to.
Work out whether the Food Freedom Act covers you
The Tennessee Food Freedom Act covers foods produced in a home based setting. Confirm that what you plan to bake and sell falls inside it.
Apply for the permit that fits
A Domestic Kitchen Permit is typically the one a home bakery needs. All food manufacturers in the state must be licensed, so do not skip this step.
Check your county and city
Requirements can vary by county or city, particularly around zoning. A quick call now saves a shut down later.
After the license, the selling starts
Once you know what you are allowed to sell, the next questions are practical ones. What does a batch cost you, what do you charge, and how do people order. Neighboring states run their own versions of these rules, and our guides to a home bakery license in North Carolina and a home bakery license online are useful if you sell across a state line or want the whole picture.
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Brevl handles the parts around the permit: recipes with real costing, ingredient inventory, and a weekly planner so you can price and plan. You take card payments through your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. It works on a computer and on a phone, and a real person answers, usually within minutes.
Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my home in Tennessee?
Yes, in most cases. All food manufacturers in Tennessee are required to obtain a license under the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Chapter 0080-04-13, and a Domestic Kitchen Permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is typically what a home bakery needs.
What is the Tennessee Food Freedom Act?
It is the state's cottage food law, also called the Tennessee Cottage Food Law or the Cottage Food Industry Act. It generally covers foods produced in a home based setting and allows home based bakers and cooks to legally sell their kitchen creations if they follow the rules.
Which office do I contact first?
Start with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Ask which permit or license applies to your home kitchen and what you plan to sell, then confirm the details with your county or city.
Can my county have different rules?
It can. Requirements can vary by county or city, particularly around zoning, so a state permit may not cover everything you need locally.
Does Brevl help with licensing?
No. Brevl is where you take orders, price your bakes, and get paid. The permit itself comes from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and your local offices.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change and can differ by county and city, so confirm the current requirements with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and your local offices before you sell.