- Home occupation permit required:
- Conditional
- Details:
- State law prohibits local governments from adding restrictions on cottage food operations under §137F.20(1). However, Johnson County/Iowa City may have general home occupation requirements for business licensing purposes. Local zoning rules may still apply for non-food-specific aspects.
- Home kitchen:
- Iowa has two pathways: (1) cottage food exemption under §137F.20 — no license, no cap, direct sales only, most non-TCS foods including pH-tested acidified foods (pH ≤4.6 or aw ≤0.85); (2) Home Food Processing Establishment (HFPE) registration allows broader foods including perishables and indirect retail sales. State law explicitly prohibits local government from adding restrictions under §137F.20(1).
Last verified 2026-05-05. Not legal advice.
