Showing ordinances that apply to Germantown, MD
Germantown is an unincorporated community (population 91,249) in Montgomery County, Maryland. Because Germantown is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Montgomery County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The cottage food operations rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Maryland Health-General Article 21-330 allows cottage food sales of shelf-stable homemade foods up to $25,000 annually. No county license required. Labeling mandatory.
Under Maryland Health-General Article 21-330 (Cottage Food Business), residents of Montgomery County may produce and sell certain non-potentially-hazardous foods from their home kitchens without a food establishment license. Permitted products include baked goods, candy, jams, jellies, fruit butter, dried herbs, and similar shelf-stable items. Potentially hazardous foods requiring refrigeration such as dairy, meat, and cut fruit are excluded. Annual gross sales are capped at $25,000. Each product must be labeled with the producer name, home address, date of production, ingredients list, allergen information, and the statement: This product was made in a home kitchen that is not subject to Maryland food safety regulations. Sales may occur at farmers markets, roadside stands, community events, and directly to consumers. Online ordering is allowed but products must be delivered in person. Montgomery County does not impose additional permitting requirements beyond the state law, though the home kitchen must comply with residential zoning provisions for home occupations if regular sales occur from the premises.
Exceeding the $25,000 annual cap or selling prohibited items may result in enforcement by the Maryland Department of Health. Products sold without proper labeling are subject to seizure. Montgomery County code enforcement may intervene if cottage food sales create traffic or nuisance issues violating home occupation rules.
See how Germantown's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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