I would like to get home liscensed so that I can actually do some real advertising and take this more seriously.

I live in NC and what research I have done it seems pretty easy to get liscensed. Not easy, but pretty doable. Now I am not sure about the zoning thing yet, but here is what I am really asking.......

We have a very large Detached Garage in our back yard. My husband does have a lot of tools and we all have a dirtbike or four wheeler. My son and DH both race so he has his own lift and again alot of tools.

Anyway it has two large roll up doors and an entry door.
Do you think that we could completely close off one half of the garage, which would give me plenty of room, have a separate entry door to it, and turn into bakery?

Could you get this liscensed just the same or easier than inside my home?
Keeping in mind that it would still be half a garage with tools. But it would completely be sealed off separtely and have its own entry.

Do you think it would still fall under home- bakery, not commercial?
I would want to be able to furnish it with regular home ovens and fridge/freezers and such.

Please give me your honest opinions and any suggestions please!!

Also it would be large enough to actually have cake classes, do you think I could do that also?

Thanks everyone for your help!!!!

Please anyone!

Well I'm in TX.. AND I am more than sure, that you have to have running water aswell.. As long as no one can see all the other stuff I thinks it doable.. Although, I would invest in a smaller shed for the "other" items and use the garage conversion into a whole room for baking..
Good Luck to you!!!

Hi! I am in NC and with my research I found that if you have pets in your home then the garage would be best!

http://www.agr.state.nc.us/fooddrug/homebiz.htm

Please any other comments.
Like I said in first post,

the garage is 40 x 24 feet.
My side would be about 18 x 24 feet.

Your best bet is to call your department of agriculture and see what they say. Also, it depends on your zoning laws.

Where I live the state says it is fine to have a bakery outside in a garage (If all areas are seperate with walls), but the city I live in says I can not have any commercial equipment on my property. So, call the state first, then call the city.

If you can do it, I would do the garage for three reasons.
1) It will be easier to be in work mode.
2) Do not have to worry about people going in there without you (unlike a home kitchen)
3) Easier to load cakes into the car.

HTH and Good Luck!

Also, I think it is wonderful that you are working to become licensed.

When I contacted them they said you could have it in anything including a garage. They even told me you could have it in an old camper if you have one. Where at in NC are you?

Thanks everyone.

I am in Gaston County.

I am hoping that I will be able to use regular appliances like if you were using your home kitchen. That will really make a difference in cost to get started.

Thanks for all the help.

Any other opinions?

Thanks

I would make a list of the equipment you're going to use, find out the dimensions of the equipment and sketch out a to-scale floor plan to make sure everything will fit. You're talking only slightly more than 400 sq feet ......

Actually it is 18 x 26.

Originally my house was only 900 sq.ft.
This would be half. My house had 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a good size living room and nice size kitchen. Half of that would actually be a good bit of room.

I believe a post from rezzycakes, "Pictures of home business renovation", hers is 11 x 22.

I believe it is plenty big enough, but wondered more about can I use standard appliances, do I have to have a bathroom and things like that.

Thanks for any help.

18 x 26 is even more space than I have, and I have plenty with 12/15. Althoug, I use the remainder of the garage as 'warehouse'. You will need to have water, and bathroom, and several sinks in order for it to be licensed as a home bakery. usually the 3-part sink for dishwashing, a sink for mop/dirty water, a prep sink, and a sink in the bathroom.

The rest is generally easy to clean surfaces-walls/floors/ceiling.

you will save money with household appliances. I have them and it works out fine.

Something else to consider, you will need ventillation. Either a large exhaust fan, or windows with screens for draft. the oven will make things really hot.

Thank you so much joannb for the info.

Well shoot. I hate that having to have a bathroom.
It will be quite a challenge to dig for a waste line.

Hey, my body has that same problem. HAHA!

Well, anyways, Should you find out what requirements you need to do, then do everything and then have it inspected. Do they actually have a requirements list that you go by?

I would hate to do anything and then have to change it.

North Carolina doesnt require a home bakery to have a three compartment sink, or a mop sink, or a prep sink,
Do you know why you would have to have it done differently in a garage?

About the windows for draft, what if it is air conditioned?

Thanks so much for everyones help!!

When I looked into this option a while back, I was able to obtain a complete requirement list from the Indiana Board of Health. This included everything from approved materials for floors/walls, to number of required entrances, and how far to have any trash receptacles from food-prep areas.
You should contact your state/counties Board of Health department, and they should be able to supply you with this list.

Good luck to you! This is also a dream of mine once we move out of this congested city!!

Thanks Lindsaycakes.