Home Bakery Permit Requirements in Las Vegas, NV

1. Employer Identification Number (EIN)

   Issued by the IRS at no cost. A sole proprietor with no employees may use their SSN instead, but an EIN adds privacy and is needed to open a business bank account under a business name. Note: a Nevada cottage food operation cannot have employees — hiring anyone ends cottage food eligibility and requires commercial licensing.

   Official government source

   Free·Same day (online)

   Free

   Same day (online)

1. Cottage Food Operation Registration — Southern Nevada Health District (NRS 446.866)

   Nevada's cottage food law (NRS 446.866) lets an individual prepare certain shelf-stable foods in a private home kitchen and sell them without a commercial kitchen or health permit, provided gross sales do not exceed $35,000 per calendar year. In Clark County you register with the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) — not the Department of Agriculture — and may not operate until SNHD sends an approval letter. Key limits per SNHD guidance: the operation must be a single individual (no partners or employees); sales must be direct-to-consumer and in person (from your home, or at a licensed farmers market, flea market/swap meet, church bazaar, garage sale, or craft fair) — internet or phone sales are prohibited, though taking online/phone orders is allowed if the hand-off is face-to-face; no wholesale or resale (e.g., selling to a cafe or store is prohibited). Allowed baked goods are non-potentially-hazardous only: no cream or cream-cheese frostings/fillings, no custards (lemon bars, pumpkin/pecan/sweet-potato pie), no egg-containing buttercreams (Swiss/Italian/French), no fresh-fruit toppings. Every product must be prepackaged at home and labeled with FDA-compliant labeling plus the exact statement "MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION". Heads-up: AB 352 (2025) restructures this program — from July 2027 cottage food moves from health-district registration to a Nevada Department of Agriculture license with civil penalties up to $500 per violation; SNHD remains the registering authority until then.

   Official government source

   Registration fee per SNHD's Environmental Health fee schedule (roughly $200; updated each July 1 — confirm current amount with SNHD)·2–4 weeks

   Registration fee per SNHD's Environmental Health fee schedule (roughly $200; updated each July 1 — confirm current amount with SNHD)

   2–4 weeks

2. SNHD Health Permit + Commercial Kitchen (if exceeding cottage food limits)

   If your bakery exceeds the $35,000 annual gross sales cap, hires any employee or takes on a partner, sells wholesale (to restaurants or retail stores), or sells products outside the cottage food list, it no longer qualifies as a cottage food operation. You would then need a licensed commercial kitchen and a health permit as a food establishment — in Clark County, permitted through the Southern Nevada Health District.

   Official government source

   Varies by permit category — see SNHD fee schedule·4–8 weeks

   Varies by permit category — see SNHD fee schedule

   4–8 weeks

3. Nevada State Business License or Sole Proprietor Notice of Exemption (NRS 76)

   Nevada requires most businesses to hold a State Business License from the Secretary of State ($200/year for sole proprietors; $500/year for corporations). A sole proprietor operating from home whose net business earnings are below 66⅔% of Nevada's average annual wage may instead file a Sole Proprietor Notice of Exemption (home-based business exemption, NRS 76.020) with the Secretary of State — many small cottage food operations qualify. File the license or the exemption before operating.

   Official government source

   $200/year (state business license) or exemption filing if you qualify·1–5 business days

   $200/year (state business license) or exemption filing if you qualify

   1–5 business days

4. Fictitious Firm Name / DBA (if using a business name)

   If you sell under a business name other than your own legal name, file a Fictitious Firm Name (DBA) certificate with the Clark County Clerk (NRS 602). Useful for opening a business bank account and for consistent branding on your cottage food labels, which must carry your name/business name and full address.

   ~$25 filing fee — confirm with the Clark County Clerk·Same day to 1 week

   ~$25 filing fee — confirm with the Clark County Clerk

   Same day to 1 week

1. City of Las Vegas Home Occupation Permit

   Required to operate a home-based business within Las Vegas city limits. Home bakeries operating out of a residential kitchen must comply with residential zoning ordinances. Limits apply to signage, customer visits, delivery vehicles, and the volume of business conducted from the home. Apply through the City of Las Vegas Business Licensing division (702-229-6281), which processes home occupation permits with the business license.

   Official government source

   Estimated $50–$150 — confirm with the City of Las Vegas (needs_review)·1–3 weeks

   Estimated $50–$150 — confirm with the City of Las Vegas (needs_review)

   1–3 weeks

2. Clark County Home Occupation Permit (if in unincorporated area)

   Required for home bakeries in unincorporated Clark County. Many residential areas of the Las Vegas Valley are in unincorporated Clark County. Confirm your jurisdiction and apply with Clark County if applicable.

   Official government source

   Estimated $50–$150 — confirm with Clark County (needs_review)·1–3 weeks

   Estimated $50–$150 — confirm with Clark County (needs_review)

   1–3 weeks

Official Sources

• Southern Nevada Health District — Cottage Food Operations
• SNHD Cottage Food Operation Registration Application + Guidance (updated 07/2025)
• NRS 446.866 — Cottage Food Operations (registration with health authority; $35,000 cap; in-person direct sales; labeling)
• AB 352 (2025) — moves cottage food to Nevada Dept. of Agriculture licensing effective July 2027
• Nevada Secretary of State — State Business License & Exemptions (NRS 76)
• City of Las Vegas Business Licensing

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