Cottage food laws in Franklin County, KY
Franklin County, Kentucky — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Franklin County is a county in Kentucky (pop. 51,475). Under Kentucky's Okay-tier cottage food law (sales cap: 60000), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: Yes. Start with Kentucky Department for Public Health (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Franklin County health and planning requirements via the health department links on this page. Local notes for Franklin County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) has a specific webpage on the Home-Based Processor Law. Registration is with state Food Safety Branch ($50/year), not county. Franklin County is the seat of state government; FCHD references HB 263 and KRS 217.136. Allowed foods include: dried herbs/spices, candies, dried grains, granola, trail mix, whole fruits/vegetables, dried fruits, mixed greens, high-acid jams/jellies, sweet sorghum syrup, maple syrup, fruit butter, bread, fruit pies, pecan pies, cakes, cookies, popcorn. Annual cap $60,000. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
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Franklin County cottage food reports
Full statute, all counties in Kentucky, and authoritative source URLs.
State PDF
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Franklin County.
County PDFTier: Okay
Kentucky has an Okay-tier cottage food law — meaningful sales caps and/or limited channels. Operable for a side business, but you'll likely outgrow the rules if you want to go full-time.
View state law →Health department
Many states delegate cottage food registration and inspection to the county health department. Contact theirs for the local process.
Home occupation rules
The county or city zoning code governs whether you can run a home-based food business — customer visits, signage, employees, floor area.
Home kitchen, inspection, and zoning rules for Franklin County
State baseline: KRS §217.136; 902 KAR 45:090
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Must be primary residence kitchen. Production limited to non-potentially hazardous, shelf-stable foods. No more than two non-commercial ranges/ovens and three refrigerators. Commercial equipment and separate commercial kitchen prohibited. Annual gross sales cap $60,000. Must register with Kentucky Food Safety Branch ($50/year).
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Not explicitly stated in regulations; standard sanitation practices apply.
- Water supply
- Not specified in regulations.
- Handwashing
- Standard sanitation implied; no explicit handwashing station requirement.
- Food storage
- Perishable ingredients must be refrigerated. Products must be shelf-stable and non-potentially hazardous.
- Inspection required
- Upon-complaint
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection. Food Safety Branch (502-564-7181) may investigate on complaint or foodborne illness report.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- Franklin County Health Department administers Home-Based Processor Law (HB 263). No separate local home occupation permit identified in research for unincorporated Franklin County. City of Frankfort may require separate business licensing for cottage food operations within city limits. Recommend verifying with Franklin County Planning.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Products may be sold from the home (pickup or delivery), at non-permitted markets, roadside stands, community events, and online within Kentucky. No wholesale or indirect sales.
- Max employees in home
- No employees beyond household members specified in Home-Based Processor rules.
- Relevant code section
- KRS §217.136; 902 KAR 45:090; HB 263 (2018); HB 468
Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) has a specific webpage on the Home-Based Processor Law. Registration is with state Food Safety Branch ($50/year), not county. Franklin County is the seat of state government; FCHD references HB 263 and KRS 217.136. Allowed foods include: dried herbs/spices, candies, dried grains, granola, trail mix, whole fruits/vegetables, dried fruits, mixed greens, high-acid jams/jellies, sweet sorghum syrup, maple syrup, fruit butter, bread, fruit pies, pecan pies, cakes, cookies, popcorn. Annual cap $60,000.
Kentucky Revised Statutes §217.136 — Home-Based Food Processors; Exemption from Permit Requirement and Fair Packaging and Labeling Laws (§217.137 addresses home-based microprocessors)
Full Kentucky state report (with PDF download) →Verbatim excerpt217.136 Home-based food processors -- Exemption from permit requirement and fair packaging and labeling laws -- Production, labeling, and sales of home-processed food products -- Inspections -- Registration system. (1) A home-based processor shall be exempt from KRS 217.035 and 217.037 if the following conditions are met: (a) All finished product containers are clean, sanitary, and properly labeled pursuant to subsection (3) of this section; (b) All home-processed foods produced under this exemption are neither adulterated nor misbranded pursuant to subsection (4) of this section; and (c) All glass containers for jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, and similar products are provided with suitable rigid metal covers. (2) A home-based processor shall not produce or process for sale acid foods, acidified food products, formulated acid food products, or low-acid canned foods. (3) A home-based processor shall label each of its food products and include the following information: (a) The name and address of the home-based processing operation; (b) The common or usual name of the food product; (c) The ingredients of the food product, in descending order of predominance by weight; (d) The net weight and volume of the food product by standard measure, or numerical count; (e) The following statement in ten (10) point type: "This product is home-produced and processed"; and (f) The date the product was processed. (5) Food products [...] may only be offered for sale directly to consumers within this state, including from the home-based processor's home, whether by pick-up or delivery, at a market, roadside stand, community event, or online. (12) Beginning January 1, 2020, a home-based processor shall be registered with the cabinet.
Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=48558 →
Franklin County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Franklin County, Kentucky?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: Must be primary residence kitchen. Production limited to non-potentially hazardous, shelf-stable foods. No more than two non-commercial ranges/ovens and three refrigerators. Commercial equipment and separate commercial kitchen prohibited. Annual gross sales cap $60,000. Must register with Kentucky Food Safety Branch ($50/year).
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Franklin County?
Inspection: Upon-complaint. Trigger: No routine inspection. Food Safety Branch (502-564-7181) may investigate on complaint or foodborne illness report..
Do I need a home occupation permit in Franklin County?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. Franklin County Health Department administers Home-Based Processor Law (HB 263). No separate local home occupation permit identified in research for unincorporated Franklin County. City of Frankfort may require separate business licensing for cottage food operations within city limits. Recommend verifying with Franklin County Planning.
What is the Kentucky cottage food sales cap?
Kentucky state law caps cottage food sales at 60000. County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Franklin County rules
Franklin County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Franklin County This county | Scott County | Anderson County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Not explicitly stated in regulations; standard sanitation practices apply. | KY state rules do not explicitly address pets but good sanitation practices apply. No specific county override found. | No specific pet restriction in state statute, but good manufacturing practices expected. |
| Inspection required | Upon-complaint | Upon-complaint | Upon-complaint |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Conditional | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Yes |
| Delivery / pickup | Products may be sold from the home (pickup or delivery), at non-permitted markets, roadside stands, community events, and online within Ken… | Direct sales to consumers only (KRS §217.136). In-person at home, farmers markets, events, and similar. No wholesale/retail store channel. | Direct sales only. Sales at farmers markets, farm stands, events, and home pickup permitted. No wholesale, retail stores, or internet-based… |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Conditional | No |
| Local business license | Varies | Yes | Varies |
| Restrictions | Must be primary residence kitchen. Production limited to non-potentially hazardous, shelf-stable foods. No more than two non-commercial ran… | Must be producer's primary residence. No commercial ranges/ovens beyond two units; no more than three refrigerators. Commercial equipment p… | Kentucky home-based processor law (KRS §217.136) allows direct-to-consumer sales of non-TCS foods from a home kitchen. Registration with CH… |
| Food storage | Perishable ingredients must be refrigerated. Products must be shelf-stable and non-potentially hazardous. | All products must be shelf-stable and non-potentially hazardous. Proper storage to prevent contamination. | Non-TCS shelf-stable foods only. No more than three refrigerators for storage. |
| Population | 51,475 | 57,286 | 22,214 |
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