Cottage food laws in Union County, OH
Union County, Ohio — zoning, permits, health department links, and free PDF reports for home bakers (2026).
Union County is a county in Ohio (pop. 63,411). Under Ohio's Good-tier cottage food law (sales cap: None), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this county. Registration path: No. Start with Ohio Department of Agriculture (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Union County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Union County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Union County is a rapidly growing Columbus suburb (Honda of America manufacturing area). Ohio cottage food: no registration, no inspection, specific approved product list. No county-specific overrides found. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Need a product label for Ohio? Open the Ohio label mockup · Food safety quiz
Union County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Union County.
County PDFTier: Good
Ohio has a Good-tier cottage food law — solid baseline with moderate restrictions, typically a high sales cap (often $50K+) and standard direct-to-consumer rules. Workable for most home bakers with reasonable scale plans.
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 Union County
State baseline: O.R.C. §3715.023; §3715.025; Ohio Admin. Code Ch. 901:3-20
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- No registration or inspection required. Must sell approved products from ODA approved list only. Cannot sell outside Ohio. No reduced oxygen packaging.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No specific state prohibition; good manufacturing practice applies
- Water supply
- Potable water required
- Handwashing
- Standard handwashing facilities required
- Food storage
- Non-PHF approved products only; proper storage required
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection; complaint-based only
- Home occupation permit
- Varies
- Permit details
- Union County is a fast-growing suburban county northwest of Columbus. Marysville is county seat. Local zoning may apply for home-based businesses. Contact Union County Planning at (937) 645-3001.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct and indirect sales allowed within Ohio. No out-of-state sales.
- Max employees in home
- No specific limit under cottage food framework
- Relevant code section
- Contact Union County Planning or Marysville for local zoning
Union County is a rapidly growing Columbus suburb (Honda of America manufacturing area). Ohio cottage food: no registration, no inspection, specific approved product list. No county-specific overrides found.
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)
Full Ohio state report (with PDF download) →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 →
Union County cottage food — FAQ
Is a home kitchen allowed for cottage food in Union County, Ohio?
According to our research: home kitchen is allowed. Restrictions: No registration or inspection required. Must sell approved products from ODA approved list only. Cannot sell outside Ohio. No reduced oxygen packaging.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Union County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection; complaint-based only.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Union County?
Home occupation permit: Varies. Union County is a fast-growing suburban county northwest of Columbus. Marysville is county seat. Local zoning may apply for home-based businesses. Contact Union County Planning at (937) 645-3001.
What is the Ohio cottage food sales cap?
Ohio state law caps cottage food sales at None. County rules may add permits or zoning limits on top.
Where to verify Union County rules
Union County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Union County This county | Marion County | Delaware County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No specific state prohibition; good manufacturing practice applies | No specific state prohibition; good manufacturing practice applies | Ohio Admin. Code does not explicitly prohibit pets for cottage food, but GMP practices apply. |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct and indirect sales allowed within Ohio. No out-of-state sales. | Direct and indirect sales allowed within Ohio; online sales within Ohio permitted. No out-of-state sales. | Ohio cottage food law permits direct-to-consumer sales from home, at events, farmers markets, and online. Delivery to customers permitted. … |
| Home occupation permit | Varies | Varies | Conditional |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | No registration or inspection required. Must sell approved products from ODA approved list only. Cannot sell outside Ohio. No reduced oxyge… | No registration or inspection required. Must sell approved products from ODA approved list only (bakery products, candy, granola, flavored … | Ohio state law permits cottage food production from a home kitchen. No registration required. Approved product list (Ohio Admin. Code 901:3… |
| Food storage | Non-PHF approved products only; proper storage required | Non-PHF approved products only; proper storage required | Products must comply with Ohio Admin. Code 901:3-20-04 approved product list and standard GMP storage requirements. |
| Population | 63,411 | 65,366 | 216,074 |
Compare neighboring counties
Union County baker discussion
10 starter threads — welcome, zoning, top sellers, sourdough, cookies, jams, farmers markets, and more. Read what others are talking about or sign in to post.
Other Ohio counties
Resources for cottage food and home bakers
Supplies, courses, insurance, farmers markets, kitchen rentals, and local services. To advertise here, visit crosodo.com/advertise. Browse all classifieds.
Advertise here
Packaging, labels, baking tools, bulk ingredients, and equipment for cottage food operators. Reach home bakers across the country.
crosodo.com/advertiseAdvertise here
Baking classes, cottage food business training, workshops, and food safety education. Reach home bakers across the country.
crosodo.com/advertiseAdvertise here
Product liability, home bakery, market vendor, and small food business insurance. Reach home bakers across the country.
crosodo.com/advertiseAdvertise in Union County, Ohio
Reach home bakers in Union County, Ohio. Supply stores, farmers markets, kitchen rentals, co-packer referrals, and bakery services are welcome.
Learn about placementsYour business here
Local cottage food listings, community kitchens, farmers market dates, and non-profit events can be submitted for review.
Post in the local discussionAds are paid placements. Crosodo does not endorse listed vendors. Verify all product, service, course, insurance, and legal information independently.
Cottage food law and municipal zoning interact in non-obvious ways. Before investing in equipment or marketing, talk to Ohio's department of agriculture, your local health department, and your county or city's planning office. Crosodo is a clothing brand for cottage bakers, not a law firm.
Local bakers discuss zoning, permits, top sellers, sourdough, farmers markets, and more in the Crosodo forum.