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Cottage food by state

Ohio cottage food law: what you can sell and how

Ohio lets you make foods from a set list in your home kitchen with no license or inspection, and sell them in Ohio directly and through stores, farm markets and restaurants.

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Updated November 2026 by the Madeline's team, who set these tools up for makers and farms.

The short version

Ohio cottage food operations need no license or inspection. You can make only the foods on the state's approved list, label them with "This product is home produced." in 10-point type, and sell them only within Ohio, directly or through grocery stores, registered farm markets, farmers markets and restaurants.

Ohio rules at a glance

  1. Who regulates

    Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Food Safety. Products can be sampled to check they are not misbranded or adulterated.

  2. License

    None. Cottage food operations are exempt from licensing and inspection.

  3. Allowed foods

    A set list including non-potentially hazardous bakery products, jams, jellies, fruit butters, candy, granola, popcorn, unfilled baked donuts, roasted coffee, dry baking mixes, dry herbs, seasoning blends and dry tea blends.

  4. Not allowed

    Acidified foods, low-acid canned foods, potentially hazardous foods, any food not on the list, and reduced oxygen packaging.

  5. Where you can sell

    Only in Ohio. Direct from your home, and through grocery stores, registered farm markets, farmers markets and restaurants. Certain government-organized festivals of up to seven days also qualify.

  6. Labels

    Product name, net quantity, ingredients by weight, your business name and address, allergens, and "This product is home produced." in 10-point type.

Check the source

  • Official source

    Ohio Department of Agriculture: Cottage Foods

    Rules change. Confirm the current figures and forms with the state before you start selling.

    Open the official page

  • Cottage food to commercial kitchen

    What changes when you outgrow the limits.

    Read the guide

  • Free tool

    Cost per jar calculator

    Price your cottage food products from what they really cost.

    Use the calculator

  • Food label requirements

    What a packaged food label needs, including allergens.

    Read the guide

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How it works

  1. Tell us what you make

    What you make and what you use now. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer.

  2. Get a short plan

    Keep this, replace that, connect these, and the cost.

  3. We set it up

    Setup and migration done for you. You approve before anything goes live.

  4. Run it or hand it off

    Take it from there yourself or keep us on for the upkeep.

Questions

Do I need a license to sell cottage food in Ohio?

No. Ohio cottage food operations are exempt from licensing and inspection.

Can I sell cottage food to stores in Ohio?

Yes. Properly labeled cottage foods can be sold through grocery stores, registered farm markets and restaurants in Ohio.

Can I sell outside Ohio?

No. Cottage food products may only be sold in Ohio.

Are pickles allowed?

No. Acidified foods are not allowed under Ohio's cottage food rules.

Get a plan and a price

Tell us what you make and what you use today. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer. We reply by email with what we would keep, what we would change and what it costs.

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