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Cottage food laws

Ohio Cottage Food Law

Can you sell homemade food from your home kitchen in Ohio? Here are the sales cap, allowed foods, where you can sell, and the point where you must move into a licensed commercial kitchen.
Educational summary, not legal advice — cottage food rules change; confirm with the state before you sell.
Program
Cottage Food Production Operation
Annual sales cap
No cap
Where you can sell
Direct/in-personFarmers marketsHome pickupRetail stores (in-state)Online
Registration / to start
None (no registration, license, or fee); products subject to ODA sampling authority
Allowed foods
Non-TCS: cookies, breads, brownies, cakes, fruit pies, candy/brittle/chocolate-covered non-perishables, granola, popcorn, jams/jellies/fruit butters, dry mixes, honey (≥75% own hives), maple/sorghum syrup
Not allowed
TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods, acidified foods
When you need a commercial / commissary kitchen
Making TCS/acidified foods or exceeding the non-TCS list requires a licensed kitchen
Administered by
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) · Ohio Rev. Code § 3715.01; OAC 901:3-20

Source: Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Cottage food laws change often — confirm current rules before selling.

Good to know

No registration, no license, no cap; ODA retains food-sampling authority. Cottage foods may even be sold through retail stores.

Outgrowing cottage food? When you need a licensed kitchen, see Ohio food-business requirements, estimate the build with the cost-to-open calculator, and check whether you need a hood.

Frequently asked

Can I sell homemade food in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio has a cottage food framework (Cottage Food Production Operation) that lets individuals make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from a home kitchen. There is no sales cap. You still must follow the state's rules on allowed foods, labeling, and where you can sell. Administered by Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).
What foods can I sell under Ohio's cottage food law?
Non-TCS: cookies, breads, brownies, cakes, fruit pies, candy/brittle/chocolate-covered non-perishables, granola, popcorn, jams/jellies/fruit butters, dry mixes, honey (≥75% own hives), maple/sorghum syrup Not allowed: TCS/refrigerated foods, meat, low-acid canned goods, acidified foods
When do I need a commercial or commissary kitchen in Ohio?
Making TCS/acidified foods or exceeding the non-TCS list requires a licensed kitchen At that point, see the requirements and permit fees for your area.
Do I need a license or registration for cottage food in Ohio?
None (no registration, license, or fee); products subject to ODA sampling authority
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