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Pilot: Toronto, the GTA and Prince Edward County. Founding cooks: first 100 free for life

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For cooks

We help home cooks sell their food.

Most good home cooks never sell because the rules look like a wall. They are a short list of steps. These guides walk you through each one, in plain language, with the official pages to check. You do not need us to sell your food, but we would like to make it easier.

Start with step 1Apply to sell

The path, in order

  1. Which route fits you?Three ways to sell food legally in Ontario, what each needs, and how to choose in ten minutes.6 min read
  2. Tell your public health unitWho to call in Toronto, the GTA and Prince Edward County, what to say, and what happens next.5 min read
  3. Get your food handler certificateWhat it is, who needs one, how to get it, what it costs and how long it lasts.5 min read
  4. What you can sell from a home kitchenLow-risk and potentially hazardous foods explained, with examples across baked, preserved and frozen.6 min read
  5. Labels and allergensWhat goes on a package, English and French, allergens in plain words, and what we generate for you.5 min read
  6. Preserving, jam and canningWhy tested recipes matter, high-acid versus low-acid, and what public health units expect.5 min read
  7. Business basics: name, tax and insuranceRegistering a name, when HST starts, what to ask your insurer, and keeping simple books.5 min read
  8. Using a commercial or shared kitchenHow renting kitchen time works, what to ask before you sign, and what we need from you.4 min read

Your public health unit

Your first call. The rules are provincial, but each unit inspects and advises its own area. Find the one for the municipality where you cook.

  • Toronto Public Health

    Toronto

    Notify the Medical Officer of Health before you start; an inspector then contacts you.

    Official page

  • Peel Public Health

    Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon

    Peel asks canning businesses to notify at least 14 days before opening.

    Official page

  • York Region Public Health

    Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Newmarket, King, Whitchurch-Stouffville, East Gwillimbury, Georgina

    New Food Premises Notification Form, or Health Connection 1-800-361-5653 ext. 4; health.inspectors@york.ca.

    Official page

  • Durham Region Health Department

    Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Uxbridge, Scugog, Brock

    Official page

  • Halton Region Public Health

    Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills

    311 or 905-825-6000.

    Official page

  • Southeast Public Health

    Prince Edward County (and Hastings County)

    Notice of intent to operate a food premises form. Environmental Health (West), Belleville: 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 677.

    Official page

How we check cooks

Buyers need to trust the person cooking. There is no single public list of approved home cooks in Ontario, so we ask each cook for the paperwork and review it by hand before anything goes live.

  • Confirmation from your public health unit that you have notified them
  • Food handler certificate, where your foods require one
  • Certificate of insurance
  • Allergens and ingredients for every dish
  • Your kitchen details, with your address shown only to buyers who have ordered
  • A review of each dish before it is published

Last checked 20 October 2026. These guides summarize public information from health units and government agencies. They are not legal advice, and your public health unit has the final word on what applies to your kitchen. Rules change; always confirm.