How to Find Legal Home Bakers Near You

Published ยท Health and wellness

Home bakers sell bread, cookies and cakes in many communities, but the rules they follow depend on the state. Each state sets its own cottage food rules, including which foods a home baker may sell, where the sale can happen and what the label must say. Buyers who know those basics can find local makers, ask better questions and know who made the food they bring home.

Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. It explains the rules in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Mississippi. Law details come from each state's guide on this site. The Florida guide was last reviewed Oct. 12, 2026, and the other four were last reviewed Oct. 13, 2026. Each guide links to the official statute and agency pages.

Where to look

Signs a home baker follows the law

A label with a home-kitchen statement

Each of these states requires a statement, on the label or in a notice to the buyer, that the food was made outside the state's regular food safety rules or inspection. The required statements are:

The statement is a required disclosure. It tells buyers the food was made under the state's cottage food rules rather than in an inspected commercial kitchen. For a full walk-through of a label, read What a Cottage Food Label Tells You as a Buyer.

A name and a way to reach the maker

Labels in these states must show the name of the cottage food operation, and most must also show an address. Georgia and South Carolina let makers print a state-issued identification number in place of a home address. Sources: O.C.G.A. 26-2-473(a); S.C. Code 44-1-143(D). A label with an identification number instead of a street address is allowed in those states.

Foods that fit the rules

Cottage food laws generally cover foods that do not need refrigeration to stay safe, such as breads, cookies, cakes without perishable fillings, jams and candies. Georgia's law, for example, excludes foods that need temperature control for safety, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, or GDA, lists meat, eggs, dairy products and cooked vegetable products such as salsa among the foods that do not qualify. Sources: O.C.G.A. 26-2-470; GDA Cottage Food FAQ. If a maker offers a food that seems to need refrigeration, check the state guide to see whether it qualifies.

Food safety training, in some states

Georgia requires cottage food operators to complete an ANSI-accredited food safety training program, and Alabama requires a food safety course approved by the state health department. Sources: GDA Cottage Food; Ala. Code 22-20-5.1(e). The Florida, South Carolina and Mississippi statutes do not require a food safety course. In any state, a buyer can ask a maker about food safety training.

No permit does not mean illegal

In each of these states, a home baker who follows the cottage food law and stays within any sales cap does not need a state food permit. Florida exempts makers with annual gross sales of $250,000 or less, and Mississippi exempts makers with gross sales of $35,000 or less a year. Georgia has required no state license since July 1, 2025. Alabama requires no food service permit, and South Carolina requires no license or permit. Sources: Fla. Stat. 500.80(1); Miss. Code Ann. 75-29-951(1)(a); GDA HB 398 FAQ; Ala. Code 22-20-5.1(b); S.C. Code 44-1-143(F).

For a home baker, the label and the type of food are better signs of a legal sale than a permit.

How buying works in each state

For a side-by-side look at the rules, read How Cottage Food Laws Compare in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

Questions to ask a home baker

  1. What is in it? Ask for the ingredient list and any allergens, especially for custom orders without a printed label.
  2. What else is made in the kitchen? A home kitchen often uses the same counters and pans for many recipes, which matters for buyers with food allergies.
  3. How should it be stored? Follow any storage instructions the maker gives.
  4. How does pickup or delivery work? The answer should match what the state allows.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy cottage food online in Mississippi?

No. Mississippi law does not allow cottage food sales over the internet or by mail order. Makers may advertise online, but the sale must go directly from the maker to the buyer. Sources: Miss. Code Ann. 75-29-951(2); MSDH Cottage Food FAQ.

Can I buy home-baked goods at a grocery store in Georgia?

Yes. Since July 1, 2025, Georgia law allows cottage food makers to sell to grocery stores and restaurants. The store must post a sign and keep cottage foods in a separate, labeled section or display case. A city or county may ban these store sales by ordinance. Sources: O.C.G.A. 26-2-472; O.C.G.A. 26-2-478.

Can I order from an Alabama home baker if I live in another state?

No. Alabama law limits cottage food sales and delivery to consumers in Alabama. Source: Ala. Code 22-20-5.1(a)(2).

Can I have a Florida home baker mail an order to me?

Yes. Florida law allows delivery by the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial mail delivery service, and UF/IFAS Extension says Florida cottage foods may be shipped across state lines. The buyer's state may have its own rules. Sources: Fla. Stat. 500.80(2); UF/IFAS FS425.

Find makers near you

Browse home bakers and cottage food makers by state and county on the all states page, and check the cottage food rules for any state. New cottage food makers are added daily. Makers can claim and update their free listings at any time.

Sources

This article is general information, not legal advice. Check your state's rules and ask the maker when you have questions about a product.