The City of Douglas has adopted a cottage food ordinance to help support and regulate small-scale food entrepreneurs operating from home/residential kitchens. This ordinance aims to assist these entrepreneurs while ensuring public health and safety.
Cottage food operators may produce products such as loaf breads, rolls, and biscuits, cakes, pastries and cookies, candies and confections, fruit pies, jams, jellies, preserves, dried fruits, dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures, cereals, trail mixes, granola, coated or uncoated nuts, vinegar and flavored vinegar, popcorn, popcorn balls, and cotton candy.
Licensed cottage food operators are permitted to make only food that is not potentially hazardous. Some examples of hazardous foods are meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, eggs, and more. For a complete list of what is allowed to be made with a Georgia Cottage Food license, please refer to the Georgia Department of Agriculture website at www.agr.georgia.gov/cottage-food, email CottageFoodInfo@agr.georgia.gov, or call (404) 656-3627.
The following permitting, license, and compliance requirements are now in effect for licensed Cottage Food Operators:
- All Cottage Food Operators must obtain a valid Cottage Food License from the Georgia Department of Agriculture prior to beginning food production.
- Operators must obtain an annual Occupational Tax Certificate (Business License) with the City of Douglas Community Development Department, providing a copy of their state-issued Cottage Food License; proof of residency, and a signed statement agreeing to comply with all applicable regulations.
- Operators must notify the City of any change in ownership, location, or business cessation within 30 days.
- Operators shall comply with all applicable health, labeling, packaging, and operational standards set by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
- No Cottage Food Operation shall prepare or sell potentially hazardous food items, as defined by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
In addition to the permitting, license, and compliance requirements, cottage food operators will also have to follow operational requirements which include food production taking place only within the operator’s primary residence, no commercial-grade equipment installed at operator’s primary residence unless approved by local code enforcement, no food shipped across state lines unless otherwise authorized by law, all packaging must clearly label with name and address of the operator; a list of ingredients and the statement “This product is homemade and not subject to state food safety inspection”, and operators must follow safe food handling practices, as outlined in the Georgia Department of Agriculture guidelines. Direct sales to the public are permitted, including at farmers markets, roadside stands, and online with in-person delivery. Cottage Food Operations are permitted in all residential zoning districts within the City of Douglas, provided they operate only within the primary residence of the operator, do not employ individuals outside of immediate household members, and do not generate significant traffic, noise, or disruption inconsistent with residential use.
In regard to inspections, the City of Douglas reserves the right to coordinate with the Georgia Department of Agriculture for periodic inspections or investigations in response to complaints or suspected violations. If an Operator is found to be in violation of the ordinance, the operator may be subject to revocation of city registration, civil penalties up to $500 per violation, and legal action as necessary to ensure public safety. Operators can appeal enforcement actions to the City Manager or a designated hearing officer.
For more information regarding the Cottage Food Ordinance, please contact the City of Douglas Code Enforcement office at (912) 389-3460.