Hello All
Just wanted to know if anyone knows if there has been any new movement or advances in getting the Cottage Food Law passed in MD. I ran across a website that appeared to indicated that a Bill was introduced to the Assembly on February 12, 2012. Does anyone else know about this and if so can you update me please? I attached the file below.
I just found this online about a petition to sign in support the bill.
http://www.petitiononline.com/mdbake/petition.html
I just found this online about a petition to sign in support the bill.
http://www.petitiononline.com/mdbake/petition.html
Yes, thanks. I signed the petition a few days ago. I was hoping there was some updates on the Bill.
WHAT!!!!! REALLY?!?!?! This is the best news I've had today!!!! Whooohooo!!!!
The governor signed Senate Bill 550 on May 2nd.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/sb0550.htm
It looks like it limits annual revenues to $25K and only allows sales at farmers markets or public events, so customers picking up at your home or you delivering to customers is not covered (unless I'm reading it wrong).
The bill itself is here:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/bills/sb/sb0550t.pdf
I'm feeling 2 different things about this Bill. I'm a little disappointed that it's so limiting in terms of where sales can be made but I'm excited that it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully in a couple of years we can get them to amend the Bill to include more.
Very Dissapointed in this Bill. Not exactly the freedom us home Cake Bakers were looking for. Not only are we only able to sell at farmer's Markets and Events, but our "baked goods" must be packaged a certain way and labeled a certain way with all ingredients. Not exactly the Cottage Laws I want. I have a friend who lives in Ohio and she runs a Bread business out of her home completely legally. Wish the same was true for me here in Maryland!
A
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Very Dissapointed in this Bill. Not exactly the freedom us home Cake Bakers were looking for. Not only are we only able to sell at farmer's Markets and Events, but our "baked goods" must be packaged a certain way and labeled a certain way with all ingredients.
Only allowing sales at farmer's markets and events is pretty restrictive, but labeling requirements are a standard feature in just about every cottage food law.
Hello! Everyone I have sign the petition as well. I truly wants to run my business out the comfort of my own home. I never wanted a store front. I'm so bum what do you do in the mean time. I thought of renting a kitchen but what good is that going to do unless I'm trying to obtain a business license to sell cakes but the only problem I have is that I don't have a large clientele to want to rent a kitchen to do one cake every now and then. But then again I don't want to be a boot leg cake decorator either. HUH!!! Decisions. I guess I will be improving my skills until they improve that Law :) LOL
Is there any movement to expand the law that passed last year in MD? It would be great to be able to actually get a licensed home kitchen and then be able to sell directly to customers and not just through farmers markets and events! (Especially since you can license a home kitchen in Virginia and I believe in Delaware and now DC).
If there isn't already a push to expand the law, does anyone know how to go about getting it started? I don't know where to start...
I might be moving to MD in a year or so and just wanted to follow this thread. I would be more than happy to help in any way I can to help expand the current restrictions. That is, help in whatever way possible while still across the country :/
I wonder if it would be possible to take an order for a cake, and bring ordered cakes, at the Farmer's Market (or other public events)? No delivery or picking up at your home involved.
Just thinking...
I'm going to call some health departments out in MD next week, but wondering if anyone might already know the answer on here:
Can you have a 2nd kitchen in your house to bake out of if it's commercial? I've been looking at real estate out there and see that there are a lot of basements, and some have a kitchen. Would it be legal to just renovate it into a commercial kitchen? Or would it have to be detached?
A
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Just thinking...
I'm going to call some health departments out in MD next week, but wondering if anyone might already know the answer on here:
Can you have a 2nd kitchen in your house to bake out of if it's commercial? I've been looking at real estate out there and see that there are a lot of basements, and some have a kitchen. Would it be legal to just renovate it into a commercial kitchen? Or would it have to be detached?
I am bumping this because i was wondering the same thing. We are in the process of moving to MD.
Though if i were to guess, the fees involved would be too much for the casual home cake baker.
The county I live in states on their Health Dept. site that they will not certify a home kitchen. It does not matter if it is a second kitchen in the basement or detached...they will not come out and certify it as a commercial kitchen.
Hi All,
I am located in MD and new to cake decorating, currently just fine tuning my skills and baking for friends and family.
I would love to be able to sell from my home, particularly as I am a stay at home mom and I bake and decorate while my son is sleeping. I looked into renting commercial space, but it just seems particularly cost prohibitive for me right now, particularly when coupled with childcare.
I would love to help support the amendment of this bill in any way that I can.
I am also curious to know if anyone has successfully been operating a custom cake business through distribution at farmer's markets and how they have structured it?
Thanks so much for any responses!
Kerry
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