Buffalo home bakers and food producers operate under NY Agriculture and Markets Law Article 20-C (Home Processor exemption). Registration with NY Ag and Markets is required, limited to low-risk shelf-stable foods. No Buffalo-specific cottage-food license is required.
NY Ag and Markets Law Article 20-C and 1 NYCRR Part 276 allow residents to prepare certain shelf-stable foods (baked goods, jams, jellies, fudge, dry herbs and spices, snack mixes, candy) in their home kitchen after registering a Home Processor exemption with the NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Registration is free, requires a kitchen inspection (in-person or virtual), and limits sales to in-state venues including farmers markets, food co-ops, and direct-to-consumer (including online within NY). Prohibited products include anything requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecakes, meats). The City of Buffalo imposes no separate cottage-food license, but a home occupation must still comply with Green Code Section 6.1.2 and any NY State sales-tax Certificate of Authority required for retail sales.
Selling un-registered or prohibited products: NY Ag and Markets warning, then fines up to 300 dollars under Article 20-C. Health complaints triggering illness may lead to criminal charges.
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