In the last few years, more and more people have started to turn their love of baking, canning, and creating treats into small home businesses. These products, known as “cottage foods,” are non-perishable items made in a home kitchen and sold directly to consumers. Cottage foods are considered low-risk because they are non-potentially hazardous. In other words, they don’t require refrigeration or special handling to stay safe. Products like breads, cookies, jams, candies, and dried goods are typically shelf-stable and have characteristics such as low moisture, high sugar, or acidity that prevent harmful bacteria from growing. Since these foods don’t provide the conditions pathogens need to multiply, they are much safer to prepare in a home kitchen compared to items like meats, dairy products, or cooked vegetables.
Historically, cottage food businesses in Georgia required a license to operate from the Department of Agriculture. The license process included applying for the license, paying license fees, and having the home inspected before being legally allowed to sell. This license requirement added time, cost, and a significant barrier to cottage food producers.
As of July 1, 2025, cottage food producers will not be required to have a license under House Bill 398. Instead, they can register their business to receive an identification number. This ID number will go on labels for their cottage food products instead of their home address in an effort to protect personal privacy while ensuring traceability of products. The bill also expands sales, allowing cottage food producers to sell their products to retail food sale locations like grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores. These changes are designed to make it easier for Georgians to earn income from homemade foods, reduce barriers for small businesses, and give communities more opportunities to enjoy locally made products.
While the license requirement has gone away, cottage food operators are still expected to follow food safety protocols, including completing a certified food safety course through the American National Standards Institute, using safe water sources (and annual testing of private wells), and following label requirements including ingredient and allergen information. The Department of Agriculture will no longer conduct regular inspections of home kitchens, but will investigate if there are consumer complaints or food safety concerns.
Not a cottage food producer? No problem — these regulatory changes affect you too, by making it easier to find unique, homemade products right here in Lincoln County. Whether it’s a loaf of bread from the farmers market, a jar of jam made with backyard fruit, or cookies sold at a school fundraiser, cottage foods give Georgians a way to support local communities and small businesses. More details about the changes to the Cottage Food Licensing can be found by visiting the Department of Agriculture website at agr.georgia.gov or by emailing cottagefoodinfo@agr.georgia.gov
