Georgia's HB 398 removed the state cottage food license and the sales cap, so you can bake and sell non-hazardous foods from a Columbia County home kitchen with no state permit. Direct and retail sales are both allowed now.
Cottage food in Columbia County is governed by Georgia law, not the county. Under House Bill 398, effective July 1, 2025, cottage food operators no longer need a Georgia Department of Agriculture license or fee, and there is no revenue cap. You may produce non-potentially-hazardous, shelf-stable foods, such as breads, cakes, cookies, candies, and jams, at home and sell them directly to consumers or to retail food sales establishments like grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores. Products carry the required residential-production and allergen label. HB 398 bars the county from regulating cottage food except an opt-out of third-party vendor sales; local business licensing and zoning still apply.
Selling potentially hazardous foods that need refrigeration falls outside the cottage food exemption and pulls the operation under full Georgia food service permitting. The Department of Agriculture still investigates consumer complaints, foodborne illness reports, and public health emergencies.
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See how Columbia County's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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