Starting a Legal Home Bakery in Georgia

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Permalink Reply by Karen on December 12, 2010 at 9:48pm

Hi Sara

I just found this website after searching for information on starting a GA Home Kitchen.  My co-workers seem to love my cupcakes and I'd like to have a small business doing cupcake towers for weddings, luncheons, and other events.  I called all of the "Departments" in Hall County, where I'm located, including Dept of Agr., Zoning and Planning, Environmental Health, Business License, etc.  I wanted to see what was going to stop me legally before I spent the money redoing my basement.  I found that I need a finished room designated for a bakery, meaning nothing else can be stored there and it can't be used for any other reason.  It has to have an outside entrance, a bathroom for hand washing, a mop sink, a three compartment sink that your largest piece of equipment (bowls, pans) can be submersed.  I did not ask about commercial stove or refrigerator. 

All of the above is possible.  Where I'm running into a problem/stopping point is with Environmental Health.  The grease trap, that I had first thought was the large box type that is installed under the sink, turns out to be a 1000 gallon tank that is installed to go along with your septic system and I assume will need to be professionally cleaned out.  If you have city sewer it may be completely different.

All this may be a little too expensive for a hobby.  I've also been taking an online course from my local college  on Starting a Home Business, which has been informative. I'm still hopeful.

I hope this helps you.

Permalink Reply by Brenda Warbington on July 15, 2011 at 3:08pm

My county (Gwinnett) will not allow home baking, unless you were grandfathered in long ago.  That required me to find a commercial rental kitchen.  You need to contact your county health department and check with them. Each county can require different things on top of the Dept of Ag regulations.  You also want to check to see if there are any zoning issues before you spend a lot of money on your home.  

 

Good luck!   I hope it all works out for you!