My boyfriend brought up the idea to buy a duplex and rent out half and use the other half as my 2nd kitchen to bake out of?? I am checking with the health department. I don't know why it wouldn't be allowed. Just curious if anyone has done or heard of this??

Thanks!

Don't know about "cottage businesses" in Wisconsin, but, in Kentucky (at least in MY county) you CAN do this. In fact, the Health Department suggested that I use the Wooden Storage Barn in my back yard for my kitchen. Redone, of course, but, it would be approved!

Beth in KY

Sounds like a GREAT idea ! And the tenant would be making your payments !

I have heard of it. But some places require the property to either be zoned commercial, or have a use variance, etc. If you can do it, it sounds like a great opportunity, and I wish you the best of luck!

skittles2120,
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALLOW IN YOUR STATE BUT AS ALWAYS IS ALWAYS WORTH CHECKING IT OUT. GOOD LUCK THAT SHOULD BE COOL . GOOD LUCK TO YOU
GOD BLESS
MICHELLE

You couldn't do it here in Oklahoma. Our regulations are beyond ridiculous.
You can't have the commercial kitchen attached to where you live in any way.


We have to meet the same requirements as any commercial restaurant or bakery just to bake a few cakes every week.

i have a storefront shop in oklahoma.

before i bought the storefront with the house behind it...i found i house with a huge back sunroom...the back room was like 1000 square ft....

so i went to the city planners office and talked to him, and he said i could renovate and run my business from there....and it was a residental area.

and theres a woman i know about 50 miles from here who has her shop connected to her home.

i think it varies from county to county here.

the city planner is at the courthouse here, they are happy to go over the rules with you.

the health dept then will help you (they did me for free)...lay out the kitchen, as to where all the sinks go, how far from the bathroom things need to be etc.

i think it sounds like a great idea...if its in a residental
area their main concern is if you are gonna have way alot of traffic comming thru, i told them i usually just have 1 or 2 at a time, they were fine with that.

you really have to do the leg work yourself, as the rules differ so much from place to place.

It does vary from county to county, so that may be the difference. We've been in contact with our county health department. They're really very helpful and I don't have any complaints about them at all. It's not their fault that the laws are what they are.

They're even giving me a pass on having to build a separate bathroom because the house bathroom is so close by...I was really grateful for that one!

We don't have any issues with the city since the house is located in what is considered a business zone anyway. When I called them, they said no problem...as long as you send a cake our way every once in a while.


I hope it works out for the op! That would be a great way to get started.

i know tulsa county is ROUGH, i would not want to even try to have a place there!

down here in the country they are easier...

I'm just outside the Tulsa county line.....thank goodness!!

Those city folks can get awfully finicky.

Actually, just got a call from my husband who's been doing the leg work with the health department and now they're telling him I CAN have it attached to the house. It's still a little confusing as to whether it can have an entrance into the main house or whether it can be accessed through the house as long as there is a separate entrance as well.

We have two options as to where to renovate and the answer to that will decide it for us.

Another question for them on Monday I guess.

Thanks for all of the replies. This would be a separate location from where we live. I know that you can have a home kitchen but it needs to have all the necessary equipment, etc. plus a separate entrance. I am waiting to hear from the county health dept. I will keep you all informed. Thanks again!

skittles2120,
What a terrific idea !! I'm going to check that out for myself. The tenant on the other side making the rent payments would be a dream.
Could half a duplex be zoned commercial and the other half not..hmmmm, just thinking out loud....
This opens up a whole new world of possibilities..... tell your boyfriend THANKS !!