Okay, I've been told that Tennessee license home bakers to cook cakes. I called Nashville this week and was told that I had to have a seperate full commerical kitchen. He told me that legislation hadn't been passed yet for us to use our home kitchens.
Did I just talk to the wrong person or what?
I would think that your government officials would know what your laws are.
If you think you were given the wrong info call back and try to speak to someone else.
Hey! Okay, I live in Nashville. I spoke with the head of the health department, and you can't run a cake business from your home at all. It is a county issue...in some counties in Tennessee you can, but in Davidson and Williamson you can't.
He said that they tried to do it 20 years ago, but this lady had dogs in her home and her husband smoked. Also, he said it was a safety issue...a lot of the health inspectors are women and they don't need to be going in people's homes. He did say that you could get around it in Davidson County by converting a garage, basement, or storage shed into an approved kitchen...as long as it had a seperate entrance so the inspector did not have to enter your home. I was really disappointed to find this all out! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions 
Okay, I've been told that Tennessee license home bakers to cook cakes. I called Nashville this week and was told that I had to have a seperate full commerical kitchen. He told me that legislation hadn't been passed yet for us to use our home kitchens.
Did I just talk to the wrong person or what?
Hi there, I'm a newby to this site. I truck farm in Middle Tn and sell at 3 Farmers Markets, vegetables and baked goods. When we had our initial meetings this year, John Sandford from the TDA was there explaining the Processed Food Regulation of Tn, (this is baked, canned or packaged foods) it is NOT just a county regulation, it is a State Wide Regulation that has not been regulated for some time. Many of the markets have inforced it this year but some have not. If there is a complaint of someone selling processed food, they will be investigated. At this time we were told they will not activily regulated markets since there are so many and so few inspectors. Next year it will be different I'm almost certain.
With that being said, there is a Domestic Kitchen Rule at the Attorney Generals level that if passed would allow selling non-perishible baked goods from your home kitchen under very strick rules. About the same rules that apply to a TDA inspected facility. Deep enough sinks for largest pans, two refrigerators - no cross contamination with home foods or meats. Absolutely no pets, visiting or otherwise! All baking etc done at separate time from normal kitchen activities. ANy canned foods you have to take a UTExt course on Canning. The list goes on, may as well build yourself a separate area with separate entrance. It is my understanding this Rule has been at the AG level for several years. I doubt it will ever get passed, retail establishments don't want the competition from home bakers nor do I think the health regulations will allow this to happen.
I acquired by baking permit at a local mom and pop store that closes their restaurant at 2p. I'm in the process of turning an old garage/storage room into a TDA approved kitchen since I'm doing alot more baking and added Decorative Cakes to 'the list of things I do'.
Check around your area for restaurant that close early or churches that will pass inspection, community kitchens or even another person that you can share kitchen space with.
If you have any question you may email me at [email protected]
You can contact John Sanford or Ron Murphy at the State of Tn Dept of Agriculture in Nashville. There is also a lady there by the name of Laura Fortune that is also very helpful.
Good luck.
Okay, I talked with Ron but I may have not made myself clear. I have a kitchen in our basement, it is not commerical. I do have two of the deep sinks, but no hand washing. I have bathroom upstairs or I could have one put just outside the kitchen door. The pasket he sent me was for a full commerical kitchen. Do you know the details as far as what else I would need to be legal? Thanks, Katie
Find out who your TDA County Inspector is, they will come to your building or facility (ie your downstairs) and do an inspection and tell you what all you will need. Contact John or Ron again and find out who the inspector is for your county or area, John told us at the meeting that they will help with whatever we need to get set up. That's what we pay taxes for right?!
Hang in there, dreams will come true somehow some way. Let me know how it goes.
Cath
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