Selling homemade food in Nova Scotia
Learn how to sell homemade food in Nova Scotia: kitchen requirements, permits, food safety training, official forms and permitted sales channels.
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Home food rules in Nova Scotia
Low-risk home-baked goods, no provincial permit. Qualifying low-risk home-baked goods can be sold without a provincial food permit.
Sales channels for qualifying home foods
No restaurants, groceries, coffee shops or care facilities.
- Markets and events
Allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Home pickup
Allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Delivery
Confirm with the authority
- Online orders
Confirm with the authority
- Retail and wholesale
Not allowed under the qualifying home-food route
Permits and kitchen approval
Outside the exemption: Food Establishment Permit Application, menu and premises info, a fee, and an on-site inspection.
Your steps in this location
- Bake shelf-stable goods Required
Cookies, breads, muffins and cakes. Fillings and icing are assessed separately.
- No provincial permit Exempt for qualifying operations
For direct sales, public markets, bake sales and temporary events.
- Keep it sanitary Required
Ingredients, prep, storage and transport. Public health can investigate complaints.
- Check training if you need a permit Confirm locally
Standard training rules don’t automatically apply to exempt home baking.
Forms and official resources
Local requirements
Confirm before selling
The current directory lists temporary-event notification forms. Confirm the process for your event and food category.
More business guides for Nova Scotia
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Four different things people mix up
A certificate does not let you open. Each of these is its own step, and you may need more than one.
- Food safety certificate
Proves you passed training. It does not approve your kitchen or business.
- Food premises permit
Authorizes a specific operation, where one is required.
- Notification or registration
Telling the health authority you are operating. A separate process.
- Business licence
Your city’s home-occupation or business approval. Also separate.
Federal rules to check in Canada
The details depend on your product and selling method. Check the applicable requirements and exemptions.
- Labels
Check common name, ingredients and allergens, net quantity, business identity, dates, storage and language. A Nutrition Facts exemption is not a blanket labelling exemption.
- Selling across borders
Shipping to another province or country? Check CFIA's tools first. Not every online home seller needs a federal licence.
- GST/HST
The general small-supplier test counts worldwide taxable supplies, including zero-rated sales and applicable associates, over one quarter or four consecutive quarters. It is not $30,000 of profit.
Your startup checklist
Completing this list does not establish government approval.
Write down your menu: ingredients, fillings, packaging, storage and shelf life.
Find your home-food exemption or approved-kitchen route.
List every way you will sell: markets, online, pickup, delivery, shops and shipping.
Check city zoning, home occupation and business licensing.
Contact your inspector and complete required notifications, applications and inspections.
Book accepted training where it is required.
Register your business name where needed and check your tax obligations.
Check insurance and landlord or condo permission.
Set up cleaning, storage, water, supplier, allergen and transport procedures.
Keep records of approvals, training, recipes and suppliers.