Under Iowa Code 137F.20, cottage food is exempt from all state licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging and labeling laws if sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer. Products must still carry name/address, common name, ingredients, and a residential-property disclaimer label.
Iowa Code 137F.20(1): "Cottage food is exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws of the state if the food is sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer, or delivered by mail or an agent of the producer such as an employee." Sales may be in person, remote, by telephone, internet or agent. Section 137F.20(2) still requires labels showing the preparer's name/address/phone/email, the food's common name, ingredients in descending order, and the statement: "This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection," plus allergen and canning-date info where applicable. Polk County zoning still limits the activity to a home occupation.
The state exemption is conditional on direct sale and proper labeling; selling wholesale or through retail can require a Home Food Establishment (137D) or food establishment (137F) license from Iowa HHS.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
polk-county-ia
Polk County allows backyard composting but regulates it through the Health Nuisance Regulation: a compost pile that harbors vermin, produces offensive odors,...
polk-county-ia
Polk County has no ordinance for or against artificial turf on residential lots. Installation on unincorporated land is generally unrestricted; cities and HO...
polk-county-ia
Polk County has no ordinance banning native or prairie landscaping, and the county promotes native roadside vegetation. The one legal limit: your planting ca...
polk-county-ia
Iowa has no state ban on collecting rainwater, and Polk County sets no rain-barrel ordinance. Residents may capture roof runoff in barrels or cisterns; only ...
polk-county-ia
Polk County sets no lawn-watering schedule. Central Iowa's water is managed by Central Iowa Water Works / Des Moines Water Works, which can impose voluntary ...
polk-county-ia
Iowa Code 317.10 requires every landowner to destroy all noxious weeds on their land as directed by the county board of supervisors. Polk County's Weed Commi...
See how Polk County's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.