Can I legally make a food product, (for example, cookies, salsa, and barbecue sauce) in my private home for commercial sale?
Approval is possible, but rare. The ingredient and container storage area, food processing area, and finished goods storage and distribution area must be completely separate from any private living spaces. The design and construction requirements for walls, floors, ceilings, equipment, plumbing, ventilation are higher than required for private homes. Inspectors must be allowed entrance during normal business hours including all hours of food processing. Local zoning also may prohibit a home processing facility. Its is easier and better to rent a restaurant kitchen or suitable facility for the time needed to process than to rebuild a private residence to meet the strict legal requirements.
