Am I legally allowed to start a micro bakery in my area?

In the United States, yes, home bakeries are 100% legal, but the laws vary state to state. Some states make it very easy, while others can be a little complex.

The laws that govern home bakers are called cottage food laws and in most places they allow you to bake and sell goods like bread, cookies, muffins, and brownies without needing a commercial kitchen or complicated permits.

Most home bakery laws boil down to just a few basic guidelines to keep you and your customers safe. Every state has its own specific rules, but each state’s cottage food laws typically cover four main things:

What you can sell: Think breads, cookies, brownies, and other non-perishable baked goods. In most states, you can sell pretty much anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
How much you can sell: Some states limit your annual income, while other states have no cap at all. If your state has a lower threshold, there may be some workarounds. For example, in addition to selling baked goods, you can sell non-food based items as well, and those items do not count towards your bakery revenue.

3. Where you can sell: Many laws allow you to sell directly to customers at farmers markets, online, or even straight from your home, but they might not allow you to ship your baked goods through the mail or utilize delivery services like DoorDash. And each state is a little different.

4. Labeling requirements: You need to include basic information on your packaging, like your ingredients list, business name, and a note that your goods were made in a home kitchen.

In most areas, the permits you need to run legally cost $100-$200 to get and take just a few hours of your time.

So, how do you find the cottage food laws in your area?

Here are a few easy ways to get started:

State Government Websites: The first place to look is your state’s Department of Health or Agriculture website. Most states have a dedicated section for cottage food laws where you can find detailed information on what’s allowed, what’s not, and any other requirements you might need to meet.
Forrager.com: This is a fantastic online resource that compiles cottage food laws for all 50 states in the U.S. It’s a great place to start if you want a quick overview of what’s permitted in your state.
Local Health Department: If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact your local health department directly. They’re there to help you, and they can provide you with the most up-to-date information and answer any specific questions you might have.

Certain states are very lenient with their guidelines, while others are more restrictive. For example, some states do not allow pets to be in the home of a home bakery and may even require a business plan or home inspection (such as Washington, Delaware and North Carolina).

Once you've applied for and received the proper permits, you can then begin selling your baked goods, whether that's through a bread stand outside your house, at farmers markets, or through pick & delivery.

Obtaining the permits can take as little as two weeks and as long as six weeks depending on your area. And don't worry, you'll still have plenty to set up while you wait, like create your brand, perfect your recipes, and order your packaging, so there won't be any wasted time!

If you're outside of the U.S., I'm not familiar with your home baking laws, and you'll want to do your own independent research to ensure it's legal in your area.

Please note: Micro Bakery School provides general guidance on home bakery laws and compliance. However, it’s your responsibility to verify and follow the specific rules and regulations in your area. Please consult your local health department or a qualified professional for additional guidance.