Cottage food laws in Cumberland County, TN
Cumberland County is a county in Tennessee (pop. 61,552). Under Tennessee'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 Tennessee Department of Agriculture (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Cumberland County health and planning requirements. Local notes for Cumberland County: home kitchen allowed; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. No county-specific cottage food ordinance found for Cumberland County. Tennessee's Food Freedom Act (Tenn. Code §53-1-125, eff. July 1, 2022) is one of the most permissive in the nation — no license, no inspection, no cap for non-TCS foods. County zoning for home occupation should be verified. Note: the old §53-8-117 (domestic kitchen statute) was repealed in 2017. Download the free PDF reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Cumberland County cottage food reports
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Cumberland County.
Download county PDF
Full statute, all counties in Tennessee, and official source links.
Download state PDFTier: Good
Tennessee 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 Cumberland County
State baseline: Tenn. Code §53-1-125 (Food Freedom Act)
- Home kitchen allowed
- Yes
- Restrictions
- Tennessee Food Freedom Act (effective July 1, 2022) broadly allows any non-TCS homemade food from a private residence. No license, permit, inspection, or registration required. No sales cap. No labeling requirements beyond a disclosure statement.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- No specific pet restriction in state law; standard food safety hygiene practices apply.
- Water supply
- No specific state cottage food water supply requirement.
- Handwashing
- No specific state cottage food handwashing mandate; standard hygiene practices recommended.
- Food storage
- No specific state cottage food storage requirement; non-TCS foods must be stored appropriately.
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- DOH may investigate only in connection with a foodborne illness investigation; no routine or complaint-only inspection authority for cottage food.
- Home occupation permit
- Varies
- Permit details
- Cumberland County zoning regulations may require a home occupation permit for commercial activities at a residence. Operators should check with Cumberland County Planning and Zoning.
- Local business license
- Varies
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Broad — direct and indirect sales permitted. Online, in-person, delivery, farmers markets, retail stores all allowed under Tennessee Food Freedom Act.
- Max employees in home
- Not specified in state law.
- Relevant code section
- Cumberland County Zoning Code (home occupation provisions); no specific cottage food county code identified.
No county-specific cottage food ordinance found for Cumberland County. Tennessee's Food Freedom Act (Tenn. Code §53-1-125, eff. July 1, 2022) is one of the most permissive in the nation — no license, no inspection, no cap for non-TCS foods. County zoning for home occupation should be verified. Note: the old §53-8-117 (domestic kitchen statute) was repealed in 2017.
Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53 – Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, Chapter 1 – General Provisions, Part 1, Section 53-1-125 (Tennessee Food Freedom Act, Public Chapter No. 862, SB 693)
Full Tennessee state report (with PDF download) →Verbatim excerptBE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Food Freedom Act." ... SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) Notwithstanding part 2 of this chapter, or another law to the contrary, except as provided in this section, the production and sale of homemade food items under this chapter are exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspecting, packaging, and labeling laws of this state, except when the department of health is investigating a reported foodborne illness. (b) The exemption under subsection (a) only applies if the following conditions are satisfied: Non-time/temperature control for safety food homemade food items must be sold either by: The producer to the consumer in person or remotely... county, municipal, and other political jurisdictions [may not restrict] production and sale of homemade food items.
Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/112/pub/pc0862.pdf →
Cumberland County cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Cumberland County, Tennessee?
Home occupation permit: Varies. Cumberland County zoning regulations may require a home occupation permit for commercial activities at a residence. Operators should check with Cumberland County Planning and Zoning. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the Tennessee guide at https://crosodo.com/states/tennessee.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Cumberland County?
Inspection: No. Trigger: DOH may investigate only in connection with a foodborne illness investigation; no routine or complaint-only inspection authority for cottage food.. Non-TCS baked goods are often exempt from kitchen inspection under state cottage food law, but local rules can differ.
What foods can I sell under Tennessee cottage food law in Cumberland County?
Any non-time/temperature control for safety (non-TCS) homemade food item produced at the producer's private residence is allowed, including baked goods, jams, jellies, candy, dried herbs, non-TCS beverages, and more. No prescribed list of allowed foods – the broad exemption covers all non-TCS homemade foods. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by Tennessee, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in Tennessee?
Tennessee state law lists cottage food sales at None. There is typically no separate county sales cap, but local permits or zoning can still limit operations.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Cumberland County?
Home occupation permit: Varies. Cumberland County zoning regulations may require a home occupation permit for commercial activities at a residence. Operators should check with Cumberland County Planning and Zoning.
Where to verify Cumberland County rules
Cumberland County vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Cumberland County This county | Roane County | Putnam County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | No specific pet restriction in state law; standard food safety hygiene practices apply. | No specific TN state or Roane County rule. | Not specified in state law. Good sanitary practices expected. |
| Inspection required | No | No | Upon-complaint |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional |
| Delivery / pickup | Broad — direct and indirect sales permitted. Online, in-person, delivery, farmers markets, retail stores all allowed under Tennessee Food F… | No channel restrictions; direct, online, retail, delivery all permitted. | Products may be sold at farmers markets, grocery stores, roadside stands, events, online with in-state shipping, and from the producer's ho… |
| Home occupation permit | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Local business license | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Restrictions | Tennessee Food Freedom Act (effective July 1, 2022) broadly allows any non-TCS homemade food from a private residence. No license, permit, … | All non-TCS homemade foods from producer's private residence. No license, permit, inspection, or sales cap. | Must be produced at a private residence. Non-TCS foods allowed without license or permit. As of 2025 amendment, most TCS foods also allowed… |
| Food storage | No specific state cottage food storage requirement; non-TCS foods must be stored appropriately. | Products must be non-TCS. | Not specified beyond general good food safety practices. TCS foods must be handled with appropriate temperature controls. |
| Population | 61,552 | 53,777 | 80,157 |
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