Ohio Revised Code 3715.01 and Ohio Department of Agriculture rules establish a statewide cottage food framework allowing residents to produce specified non-hazardous foods at home for direct sale without a license, preempting most local food production restrictions.
Ohio law defines 'cottage food production operations' as persons producing non-potentially-hazardous foods such as baked goods, jams, jellies, candy, fruit butter, granola, and dry herbs in a home kitchen. Cottage food sales are exempt from licensing under ORC 3715.01(A)(28) but require labeling that includes the producer's name and address, product name, ingredients, net weight, and the disclosure 'This product is home produced.' Home bakeries producing higher-risk products may register with ODA. Local health departments cannot require permits for compliant cottage food operations, but local zoning still controls land use.
Selling unlabeled or misbranded cottage foods, or selling potentially hazardous foods without a food processing establishment license, can result in embargo of products and civil penalties under ORC 3715.99. ODA may inspect upon complaint.
See how Liberty Township's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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