Top 50 Most Baker-Friendly Counties (Crosodo Index 2026)
Our data-driven Crosodo Index ranks U.S. counties by how permissive the combined state + local rules are for home cottage food bakers. Here are the current top 50 — plus where else we're surfacing the Index across the site.
The Crosodo Index is our data-driven ranking of every U.S. county by how friendly the rules are for someone running a home-based cottage food business. It weighs home kitchen permissions, dedicated kitchen requirements, pet rules, permits, inspections, on-site sales, and state tier. Higher = fewer barriers.
You will see the Crosodo Index on state and county pages, in our free PDF reports, and on the top counties directory. It helps you compare counties at a glance — always double-check with local health and planning offices before you rely on it.
Below is the live top 50 as of the latest data refresh. These are the counties where, according to our model, a home baker has the clearest path under current rules. Always double-check with local health and planning — this is research, not legal advice.
50 states + DC, county zoning, and free county reports.
Where to find Crosodo Index rankings
- State and county pages on crosodo.com
- Free state PDF reports (counties sorted by Index, with methodology at the end)
- The Top 100 directory at /top-crosodo-counties
- This post — updated when our research data refreshes
Current Top 50 (Crosodo Index)
(Interactive ranked list renders below based on latest research data. Click any county to jump to its full report and the parent state statute + all other counties.)
Current Top 50 Crosodo Index Counties
Ranked by our proprietary Crosodo Index (1 = most permissive for home cottage bakers under current rules). Data refreshed with each report build. Click through for the full state report + every county.
This list is derived from the same data that powers our state and county PDF reports. Scores and ranks are recomputed on every data refresh. See the full methodology in any state report PDF.
Crosodo Journal entries are recipe, craft, and cottage-food notes for home bakers. Recipes assume an active starter and basic equipment. Cottage food sales are governed by your state's law — start with the free state directory, check a product with Can I sell this?, or grab a label template. Not legal advice.
