Home Bakery (Cottage Food) Permit Requirements in Atlanta, GA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you operate as an LLC, corporation, or partnership, or if you have employees. Sole proprietors with no employees may use their Social Security Number instead. Apply free online through the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate

   Free

   Immediate

1. Georgia Cottage Food — No License Required (Registration Optional)

   Effective July 1, 2025, House Bill 398 removed Georgia's cottage food state licensing requirement and allows cottage food operators to sell to retail stores as well as direct to consumers, at for-profit and non-profit events and online. Operators may make only non-potentially-hazardous foods (breads, cakes, jams, jellies, dried herbs, nuts, vinegars and similar). Two requirements remain: the operator must complete an ANSI-accredited food safety training program (Food Handler level is sufficient), and must submit GDA's Identification Number Registration Form. Pet food and pet treats are excluded and need a feed license instead. Labeling rules under Agriculture Rule 40-7-19-.08 still apply.

   Official government source

   No state license fee. Budget for the ANSI-accredited food handler course (private providers, typically under $25).·Complete the food safety training and submit the Identification Number Registration Form before selling.

   No state license fee. Budget for the ANSI-accredited food handler course (private providers, typically under $25).

   Complete the food safety training and submit the Identification Number Registration Form before selling.

2. Georgia Department of Agriculture — Cottage Food License (Voluntary or for Wholesale)

   Georgia's cottage food law (HB 398) removed the state licensing requirement for direct-to-consumer sales. For operators wanting to sell wholesale to retail stores or restaurants, requirements are unclear from GDA's public guidance beyond an Identification Number Registration Form; contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Cottage Food Program ([email protected]) to confirm current wholesale requirements and any applicable fee.

   Official government source

   Confirm with Georgia Department of Agriculture·2–4 weeks

   Confirm with Georgia Department of Agriculture

   2–4 weeks

1. City of Atlanta Occupational Tax Certificate (Business License)

   All businesses operating within the City of Atlanta -- including home-based cottage food operations -- must obtain an Occupational Tax Certificate from the City of Atlanta Department of Finance, Office of Revenue. The annual registration fee is $191 for tax year 2026 (it was $75 for 2025 and prior), plus $25 per employee (first employee exempt), plus a flat $50 tax on the first $10,000 of gross receipts and a gross-receipts tax at your NAICS-based tax-class rate (Atlanta Municipal Code Sec. 30-62). Failure to renew by February 15 results in a $500 penalty. Apply online through the ATLBIZ portal, which replaced ATLCORE in September 2025.

   Official government source

   $191 annual registration fee for tax year 2026 ($75 for tax year 2025 and prior), plus a flat $50 tax on the first $10,000 of gross receipts, plus a gross-receipts tax at the NAICS-based tax-class rate (e.g. 1.88 per $1,000 for tax class 5 in 2026), plus $25 per employee (first employee exempt)·1–2 weeks

   $191 annual registration fee for tax year 2026 ($75 for tax year 2025 and prior), plus a flat $50 tax on the first $10,000 of gross receipts, plus a gross-receipts tax at the NAICS-based tax-class rate (e.g. 1.88 per $1,000 for tax class 5 in 2026), plus $25 per employee (first employee exempt)

   1–2 weeks

Official Sources

• Georgia Department of Agriculture — Cottage Food
• Georgia Department of Agriculture — Cottage Food Licenses
• Georgia Department of Agriculture — Cottage Food FAQ
• City of Atlanta — Apply for a Business License (Occupational Tax Certificate)
• Georgia Cottage Food Laws 2026 — Standscout

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