Orange County, NC Home Business: Cottage Food Operations (2026)

Home food producers in Orange County are regulated by the state, not the county. The NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Division runs a home processing program: before selling any food made in your home, you must first have your home kitchen inspected and be approved. The inspection is free, no permit is issued, and there is no statutory revenue cap. Only non-potentially-hazardous, shelf-stable items qualify, such as baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, dried mixes, acidified pickles, and honey. Foods needing refrigeration, dairy, meat, and seafood are excluded. Homes with indoor pets are disqualified under Good Manufacturing Practices. Applications take roughly eight to twelve weeks.