Ohio Cottage Food Law Report
Complete reference for Ohio's cottage food law — statute citation, sales cap, allowed products, registration requirements, and a county-by-county directory with health department, planning department, and zoning code links.
Ohio Revised Code §3715.023 (Labels for cottage food production operation); §3715.025 (Restrictions on cottage food production operation); Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 901:3-20 (Cottage Food Production)
Verbatim ExcerptSection 3715.025 | Restrictions on cottage food production operation. (A) A cottage food production operation shall not process acidified foods, low acid canned foods, or potentially hazardous foods. (B) The director of agriculture shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code specifying the food items a cottage food production operation may produce that are in addition to the food items identified by name in division (A)(19) of section 3715.01 of the Revised Code. The director shall not adopt rules that permit a cottage food production operation to produce any food that is a potentially hazardous food. Section 3715.023 | Labels for cottage food production operation, processor, or beekeeper. (A) A cottage food production operation...shall label each of their food products and include the following information on the label: (1) The name and address of the business; (2) The name of the food product; (3) The ingredients of the food product, in descending order of predominance by weight; (4) The net weight and volume of the food product; (5) In the case of a cottage food production operation, the following statement in ten-point type: 'This product is home produced.'
Source: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3715.025 →
Approved cottage food products (per Ohio Admin. Code 901:3-20-04) include non-potentially hazardous bakery products, candy (not dipped fresh fruit), flavored honey, fruit butters, granola/granola bars, maple sugar, popcorn and related products, unfilled baked donuts, waffle cones, pizzelles, dry cereal and nut snack mixes, roasted coffee beans, dry baking mixes in a jar, dry herbs, and spice mixes with commercially dried ingredients.
Acidified foods, low-acid canned foods, and potentially hazardous foods are expressly prohibited. Cottage food products may not be sold outside Ohio, may not be packed using reduced oxygen packaging, and may not include fresh-fruit-dipped candies. Food items not expressly listed in the approved product list (OAC 901:3-20-04) are also prohibited.
Labels must include: business name and address, product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight and volume, and the statement 'This product is home produced.' in 10-point type. Labels must also comply with 21 CFR Part 101 federal labeling requirements (per OAC 901:3-20-02).
None
Good (IJ Grade B)
88
Ohio Counties (88)
Cottage food registration usually happens at the county level. Click any county for local zoning, health department, and planning department links.
Where to verify Ohio's rules
Data compiled from primary sources. Cottage food laws change — verify with your state agency before relying on this information.
Cottage food laws are amended every year. This is a starting reference, not legal advice. Verify with Ohio Department of Agricultureand your local health department before relying on this data.