Overview

In most cases, food operations cannot be conducted from private residences.

There are several reasons why it is difficult to approve a home-based business:

• The community where the home is located may have zoning laws that prohibit the conducting of food operations in residential areas.
• Receiving food deliveries and supplies could be difficult in a residential community.
• Commercial-grade quality-tested equipment is required for use in a commercial food operation. These heavy-duty items are not meant to be used in a home.

In typical situations, food operations must also be regularly inspected by local health departments. There are exceptions:

Cottage foods
These businesses have baked and prepared foods that do not require refrigeration to keep them fresh and free from contamination.

Click here for a fact sheet about cottage food production

These facilities are not licensed or inspected so they must contain a cottage food label to warn customers that the foods are prepared in an unlicensed home.

Click here for a fact sheet about cottage food labeling

Time and temperature Controlled for Safety (TCS) foods may not be prepared in these businesses.

Home Bakery
These include TCS foods such as red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, strudel and cheesecakes.

These bakeries are registered and inspected by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Farm Market
Fresh unprocessed produce is sold by a business on the same property where the produce is grown (farm or garden).

Click here for a fact sheet

Farmers Market
This is a location where multiple farmers and cottage food producers bring their non-TCS foods for sale to the community.

There are restrictions on the types of foods that can be offered for sale.

Any farmer/producer who sells TCS foods must have a mobile, temporary or permanent food service operation license.

Click here for a fact sheet

For more information about licensing requirements:
Cuyahoga County Board of Health Food Protection Unit
216.201.2000

Additional Resources

CCBH Fact Sheet – Cottage Food Labeling

CCBH Fact Sheet – Cottage Food Production

CCBH Fact Sheet – Farm Market Operation

CCBH Fact Sheet – Farmers Market Operation

Federal Food Safety – FoodSafety.gov 

Ohio Department of Agriculture – Division of Food Safety

Ohio Department of Health Food Safety Program