My home food processing license is $10 a year. The yearly water test required for the license is $25 and the septic system inspection is free. My license covers specific things.

I don't need a license for eggs. My greenhouse license is $25 a year.

I have a nursery license that allow me to sell plants...$40.

I also need to collect sales tax (6%) on plants and cut flowers (not fresh food), but getting that number doesn't require a fee.

No license needed for eggs, but there are regs.

Kitchen license needed if selling anything processed, with commercial kitchen license needed on many things. I don't do them so don't know costs. Creme pies fall in the commercial realm.

I also have liability insurance which is simply a rider on my homeowners policy...$30 for the rider...covers my stand and farmers market.
Ann

We dont need no stinking license!!

I pulled out my paper that we had to list all of our products that we grow and it states: "It shall be unlawful for any municipality to charge the farmers or others engaged in the production of farm products of whatever nature, any license fee, for the sale or other disposition of said articles produced by them at any place." This code is entitled NO LICENSE FOR FARM PRODUCERS CHARGED TO FARMERS. We had to have it notarized and filed with the county. After studying it, it looks more like a license that says we don't need a license. Just more government bureaucracy. At least there wasn't a fee.

Regarding moonblooms' situation: There is likely a difference between a municipality trying to require a "license" than state (Dept. of Ag.) regulations. You would need to check the State regs to be accurate. In some states the requirements are less stringent on community farm markets as opposed to completely commercial situations.

For example, the cream pies: there likely are differences between having a home/farm kitchen certified/licensed and a commercial operation. Cream pies are one of those tricky products that have to be handled just so or there is a major health issue. The major baker at our market does not ever bring cream pies because there is no refrigeration, etc.

At my local market there are 3 types licenses not all vendors need all the licenses
1. standard business license aka so to pay income taxes. no sale tax on produce.
2. health certificate on both prepared food and farm produce
3. prepared food heath certificate means you taken course on handing and storage of prepared foods and have been inspected.