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Part of Do I need a licence to sell food from home in the UK?
Do I need a licence to sell food from home in the UK?
Selling food from a home kitchen in England starts with food business registration, not a single licence. Check council rules, hygiene ratings and planning.
What to take away
- There is no single national licence to sell food from home. In England, you register as a food business with your local council.
- Registration is free and should be completed at least 28 days before you sell or supply food.
- Your home kitchen must meet food hygiene and safety rules, and it can be inspected without notice.
- Check planning permission, your lease or mortgage terms, and separate licences for alcohol, street trading or online sales.
- Your food hygiene rating is given after inspection and must be displayed at your premises or on your website if you sell online.
What counts as a food business
If you prepare, cook, store or sell food from your home, even occasionally, you are likely to be a food business in England. The Food Standards Agency and your local council share responsibility for food safety.
You must register with the council where your kitchen is based. The GOV.UK food business registration service explains the 28-day notice period and the information you need.
Scotland has its own food regulator, Food Standards Scotland. Councils handle registration across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Registration is not a general licence
There is no general licence that covers all home food production. Registration confirms your existence to the council and triggers inspection. Separate permissions may still apply.
A home alcohol business may need a premises licence. Selling from a market stall or van may need a street trading licence. If you sell through a website, the article on selling online licence rules explains the extra checks.
Use the licence finder to see which permits your council lists for your activity. Planning permission may also be needed if your home becomes a commercial kitchen.
What your kitchen must show
Food safety law focuses on how you work, not whether the kitchen looks domestic. You need clean surfaces, safe storage, pest control and a way to separate raw and ready-to-eat food. Hand washing must be possible away from food preparation.
You must keep traceability records for ingredients and allergens. A food safety management system based on HACCP principles is expected. Many councils offer a Safer Food, Better Business pack for small caterers.
Training is not a single certificate, but staff must be supervised and trained for their tasks.
A table of common permissions
| Permission | What it covers | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Food business registration | Selling or supplying food from home | Local council environmental health |
| Planning permission | Running a business from a home kitchen | Local planning authority |
| Premises licence | Selling alcohol or late night refreshment | Local licensing authority |
| Street trading licence | Selling from a market, stall or van | Local council |
| Food hygiene rating | Inspection result displayed to customers | Local council |
The table is a starting point, not a substitute for council advice. Some activities, such as making alcohol, selling raw milk or catering at large events, bring extra rules. Always confirm with the authority named.
Common home food permissions
Permission
- Food business registration
- Selling food from home
- Planning permission
- Business from home kitchen
- Premises licence
- Alcohol or late night refreshment
- Street trading licence
- Selling from market or van
- Food hygiene rating
- Inspection result for customers
What it covers
- Food business registration
- Council environmental health
- Planning permission
- Local planning authority
- Premises licence
- Local licensing authority
- Street trading licence
- Local council
- Food hygiene rating
- Local council
Who to ask
- Food business registration
- Planning permission
- Premises licence
- Street trading licence
- Food hygiene rating
Steps to start legally
- Decide your menu, opening hours and whether customers collect or you deliver.
- Check your lease, mortgage and home insurance for business use.
- Register the food business with your council at least 28 days before trading.
- Ask the council about planning, waste collection and any separate licence.
- Set up food safety records, allergen information and traceability.
- Prepare for inspection and display your rating when it is issued.
Registration is not a substitute for planning or licensing approval, so start those checks early. Delays often come from lease terms, building work or a missing certificate rather than the council form.
Steps to start legally
- Decide menu, hours and collection or delivery
- Check lease, mortgage and home insurance
- Register food business 28 days before trading
- Ask council about planning, waste and licences
- Set up food safety and allergen records
- Prepare for inspection and display rating
Costs and structure
Council registration is free. Your main costs are likely to be equipment, training, insurance and any planning or licence fees. Keep official charges separate from preparation costs.
If you are starting out, the set up a business guide covers legal structures and tax registration.
You can trade as a sole trader or form a limited company; the comparison on sole trader versus limited company sets out the differences. A limited company must also go through incorporation at Companies House, but that does not replace food business registration.
Common questions
Do I need a licence to sell food from home in the UK?
No single licence covers home food sales. In England, register as a food business with your local council, then check whether your activity needs a separate permit.
How much does food business registration cost?
Registration itself is free. You may pay for training, equipment, insurance, planning permission or a separate licence such as a premises licence.
Can I use my domestic kitchen?
Yes, if it meets food hygiene and safety requirements and your lease or mortgage allows business use. The council can inspect the kitchen as part of the food business.
Do I need a food hygiene rating before I start?
No. The rating is issued after an inspection. You must still meet food safety rules from your first day of trading.
