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Spartanburg County, SC Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit/license
None required
Allowed foods
Nonpotentially hazardous only
Sales
Direct, online, mail, retail
Label
Name and address required
Administered by
SC Department of Agriculture

Summary

South Carolina's Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code 44-1-143) lets Spartanburg County residents make and sell nonpotentially hazardous foods - baked goods, candies, jams - from home with no permit, license, or inspection. Products must be properly labeled. The SC Department of Agriculture now administers the program.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Spartanburg County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

"Home-based food production operation" means an individual, operating out of the individual's dwelling, who prepares, processes, packages, stores, and distributes nonpotentially hazardous foods for sale directly to a person, including online and by mail order, or to retail stores, including grocery stores.

Full Breakdown

Under S.C. Code §44-1-143, a home-based food production operation is an individual working from their dwelling who prepares and sells nonpotentially hazardous foods directly to consumers (including online and mail order) or to retail and grocery stores. No permit, registration, or inspection is required. Allowed foods include baked goods, candy and confections, dried fruits and vegetables, jams, granola, popcorn, and similar shelf-stable items; potentially hazardous foods (needing refrigeration), canned goods, and charcuterie are excluded. Products must be labeled with the operation's name and address (an optional free SCDA ID number can replace the home address). Food-safety oversight transferred from DHEC to the SC Department of Agriculture on July 1, 2024. County zoning still treats this as a home occupation.

Violations & Fines

Selling potentially hazardous foods, or wholesaling beyond what the law permits, falls outside the exemption and requires a licensed, inspected commercial kitchen. Mislabeling or unsafe products can draw SC Department of Agriculture enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to sell baked goods from home in SC?
No. S.C. Code §44-1-143 requires no permit, license, or inspection for nonpotentially hazardous foods like baked goods, sold directly to consumers or to retail stores, if properly labeled.
What foods are not allowed?
Potentially hazardous foods needing refrigeration, aluminum canned goods, and charcuterie boards are excluded and require a licensed commercial kitchen instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Spartanburg County

All Spartanburg County rules

Compare Spartanburg County to another location·View the South Carolina home business overview

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