I know you can't have a homebakery with Pets, but for those who are homebakers and have pets, how did you jump this hurdle. Did you buy a ready made building to accommodate your needs, have one custom built, converted an old barn, converted a garage, etc...

TIA

Actually you can have a cake business at home. It all depends on where you live. I'm in Virginia and I was told that I had to have a door that separated the kitchen from the rest of the home since I have two small dogs. I rent and didn't want to deal with the liability issues as well as installing a door (I have a wide opening into the kitchen).

I have a full time job anyway and I wouldn't have time to do a cake business on the side. It's been my hobby for the last 12 years. I do know of some people who have rented kitchens from their churches or other places. That might be an option for you to look at. You should check with your local health department and see what they say.

I live on a farm with plenty of animals who all think they are pets (baby goats at the back door every morning waiting to be fed....free range chickens who like to roost on the porch ...we are country).

I have the old summer kitchen behind my house fitted out as a separate kitchen just for baking. It has the original cooking fireplace to keep me warm in winter and a separate bathroom. I have double sink No animals allowed and because it has a separate entrance from the main house (it's connected to the house by a covered porch) DHEC felt it was acceptable.

The original wood walls were fitted with formica panels for easy cleanup and I had to cover the floor with seamless vinyl. Every day I bake in there in what is now a sterile looking environment, I think of all the previous 160 years that the previous cooks worked in that kitchen without DHEC dictating what is acceptable.

My commercial kitchen is the first floor of a three story house. It does have an inside staircase that I can use and a separate outside entrance. It was approved because it really has nothing to do with the rest of the house. I have four dogs. If it did not meet code, we own a commercial office complex about two miles down the road. But luckily, it passed and I'm at home. It all depends on where you are and the configuration of your home.

In Ohio you don't have to be licensed to sell home baked goods. So, people have pets all the time.
Now, if someone wants to be licensed (like me) one of the rules was no pets. I don't know if outside only pets are allowed because my home owners association doesn't allow outside pets, so it didn't matter what the county's rules on that were.

Isn't NC one of the states that allows you to bake from your home kitchen? Maybe I'm wrong though, I remember someone saying that it's like IA, you just can't make perishables.
ANYwho, I have a separate kitchen and for 2 years had a little dog. As long as I could close the bakery off, the HD was fine with it. Poor doggie is no longer with us (car accident), but the HD would have no problem with us getting another one.
So, again, it just depends on your HD. NEVER assume either way, always just ask them.

I have a licensed, permitted and inspected home home bakery in NC and was told you could not have any pets inside the home...not even a fish! I believe I remember them saying that if you had pets in your home then you would have to get permitting through zoning and build a separate kitchen apart from your home that pets are never allowed into. For many people that is not a realistic option due to cost.

The other alternative is to share a commercial kitchen. There are some places that will allow you to do this but I understand they still have to be inspected for you to get your license to operate out of there.

In any case, you can call or email the North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture. They were very friendly and helpful to me during my approval process.

Isn't it interesting the Health Department is all concerned about pets in the home contaminating your cake, yet there are FDA standards that dictate how many bug pieces (and other goodies) are allowed in food, including chocolate?

[quote="AnnieCahill"]Actually you can have a cake business at home. It all depends on where you live. I'm in Virginia and I was told that I had to have a door that separated the kitchen from the rest of the home since I have two small dogs.

I to live in Virginia. Health Inspector just left! I was told I am lucky because if this had been my first inspection then I would have to do the same as above. The inspector told me I am allowed my dog because I had her before the Law changed. Also the price has gone down from last year $100 to $40 today!
Tammie

Southerncross: Sounds like a nice cozy baking environment with the original cook stove for heat and all.. I love the old kitchen style..with modern baking equip of course.