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Cake shed regulations and licensing requirements


Across the UK, "cake sheds" are becoming a popular way for home bakers to sell their creations.

The trend sees people selling homemade cakes and other sweet treats from stalls outside their homes. 

What are the rules?

In Cornwall you may not need street trading consent if both of the following apply:

  1. Cakes are being offered from your residential property and;

  2. Payment is made by way of an honesty box.

In other circumstances, a street trading licence may be required. 

For more information, please refer to the detailed Policy Exemption wording in our Street Trading Policy.

Other permissions may be required If the trading becomes more commercial.

This could be in situations where;

  • there are significant numbers of customers visiting

  • there is an impact on traffic in the area

  • the trading activity contributes to parking issues

In cases such as this, planning permission may be required and business rates may be payable.

We recommend contacting us if you are unsure whether you need consent before you start trading.

Contact us

Other requirements for cake sheds

Anyone selling food to the public must follow relevant food safety requirements.

This includes actions such as:

  • Registering as a food business

  • Following food hygiene and food safety standards

  • Ensuring food offered for sale is safe to eat

Follow the button below for information on your responsibilities as a food business.

Running a Food Business

What about allergen information?

Many products sold from cake sheds are likely to be prepacked for direct sale (PPDS).

This generally applies where food is packaged before the customer selects or purchases it from the premises where it was made and packed. Businesses selling PPDS foods must provide:

  • The name or description of the food.

  • A full list of ingredients (including compound ingredients)

  • Allergens highlighted in a bold or distinctive type

Follow the button below for more information on labelling requirements.

Labelling information

Bite-size guide for Cake Makers

Our Cake Makers bite-sized guide tells you everything you need to know to get your cake making business off to a great start. It's priced on a cost recovery basis.

Cake Makers Guide

Need more advice?

It's always a good idea to check in with your local authority to check the requirements that apply to your business.

Doing so can help you avoid unexpected issues further down the line.

Use the contact information at the bottom of this page to speak to our hub team.

Need help?

Most issues can be resolved online, it's the quickest and most convenient way to get help.

Use our contact us form