Food Sanitation Inspection & Licensing - Residential Kitchen License Requirements

A "Residential Kitchen" is a kitchen in a private residence where food is customarily prepared for consumption by the family. For the purposes of obtaining a license from the Food Protection Program,"manufacturing or processing food in a residential kitchen" means preparing, processing and packaging non-potentially hazardous food in a residential kitchen for retail or distribution purposes. In order to manufacture or process food in a residential kitchen, a person must complete and submit the Annual Food Service License Application.

The Food Protection Program will conduct an onsite inspection. If satisfied that the information regarding the applicant, the applicant's operation, and facilities are in compliance with NH Administrative Rules for the Sanitary Production and Distribution of Food, a provisional license valid up to 90 days will be issued. Within 45 days of issuance of the provisional license, another onsite inspection shall be conducted. If the operation and facilities continue to be in compliance, an annual license shall be issued that will be valid for a time period of one year from the date of issuance of the provisional license. Licenses are NONTRANSFERABLE.

Products allowed to be MANUFACTURED in a residential kitchen:

Baked items, including but not limited to breads, rolls, muffins, cookies, brownies, and cakes;
Double crusted fruit pies;
Candy and fudge; and
Packaging of dry products, including but not limited to spices and herbs.

Products allowed to be PROCESSED in a residential kitchen:

Acid foods, including but not limited to vinegars and mustards;
Jams and jellies; and
Foods allowed to be manufactured in a residential kitchen.

Applications (new or renewal) to manufacture or process food in a residential kitchen must include the following when submitted:

Water system requirements.
A list describing the food items to be processed including a written review of the scheduled process conducted by a food processing authority on each acid food, jam or jelly. (Renewal license applications must include a revised written review of the scheduled process shall be conducted by a food processing authority on each acid food, jam or jelly if new products are added or there is a recipe change or change in procedures for making a product.)

Manufacturers or processors of food in residential kitchens are not allowed to produce or sell potentially hazardous food, including any food that requires refrigeration.