Ok so I have been trying to figure out how to get established here. I debated on decorating at home. or getting a commercial space. I finally decided to check out space from a church. That is what I was set for until my DH told me he would give me the money I needed plus help me turn the garage into my kitchen.
I called to city to make sure I could get a license as long as the kitchen met the state standards. They said I was not in a commercial area and would not be able to get a license. Why is it that I could get an occupational license for an internet business but not a cake decorating business? I am only allowed to have one kitchen in my home.
I thought WE paid for this house. I can have two bathrooms. I can have three bedrooms. Why can I only have one kitchen!!!
Does it just seem like the more you try to do something good with yourself the more sh*t happens. It's not like I am going to have people coming here all day parking along the street. are there any open doors for me? I just don't get it. Not a problem with the state only with the city. I'm thinking it may just be easier to move! again 
Maybe I misunderstood when you said you called the city, but maybe you should try calling the health department. The city might think you are going to try to have a restaurant. The health department will be more help.
In Oklahoma, to be a licensed kitchen, it has to be a separate kitchen from the house (not meaning detached). Then there are all kinds of regulations based on the number of sinks, such as 3 for dish washing and one for just hand washing. There are a lot of other rules as well.
There are many home bakers without licensed kitchens. I don't know the penalties, but unless you make someone angry, it usually isn't a problem. Advertising is usually what get unlicensed bakers in trouble.
Best of luck to you.
Michele
They may think that you want to open up a store-front, walk-in business. Call the Health Dept. and get a clarification.
Also, my experience with the governments is that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Also, you'll get different answers from people in the same dept. For instance, when we built our pool, our fence passed inspection. When our neighbor built theirs, they had to make some changes (identical fences). We had different inspectors. Out of about 8 of us who got pools, only 1 neighbor had to make fence changes. Go figure. Don't give up!
I lucked out....the house I'm buying well.....the block it is on is zoned commercial because a neighbor a couple houses down petitioned the zoning board to zone their house commercial so they could run a dog grooming business from their garage. They approved it.......but in order for their house to be zoned commercial.....the whole block had to be!!! Therefore the house I'm getting is zoned commercial so I plan on turning the garage into a kitchen. In any case, my point is...why don't you see if you can petition to have yours zoned commercial.
lsawyer- I called the health department and they said as long as I have a commercial kitchen seperate from the house. I did tell the city lady that it was a "catering business" when I say cake business to people i just get a dumb look. so I figured "catering" was self explanitory. I dunno. But she told me My home was not allowed to have two kitchens period. I figured I would try tomorrow.
You know. I thought about just going about my way and say to heck with a license. But you know you want to do things right and be right with everyone. I really wanted to get a license because I need to advertise. I'm new in this town, don't know very many people.
I know if different from an internet business. My point was that I would be working alone at home. No street traffic. No cars coming and going or parked for long periods of time. Just me baking some cakes and then delivering some cakes.
Someday, when I win the lottery, or become super rich from a long lost relative that included me in their will, I am going to start an organization to help people that want to start businesses. Really I am. No Porshe for me!
Until then, i'm back to the drawing board.
KHalstead- only problem I am smack dab in the middle of a residental area. School on the next block. I don't think they would go for it.
An internet business is that you have items online and people order them and you take the orders to the Post Office, or Fed Ex store, etc etc.
A cake business is people driving up your street, parking on the street, maybe even making a little noise...etc etc
Many communuties do not like the added traffic a 'business" brings to the community. Period. Some places look at it as trashing the neighbhorhood.
I had to agree that I wouldn't have more then 3-5 people a week coming to my house to pick up cakes, or my PUD won't allow it.
I have a friend who has a business where he sells lunch from a lunch truck. His neighbhorhood asked him to stop parking his truck in his own driveway! So he had to rent a space to park it!
Developments just don't understand businesses.
Good luck and I Hope you get to build your kitchen!
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