Licensing, Permits and Regulations
We're Here to Help
Getting your products to market may require special regulations, permits, certification or even inspection. Listed below are some links to some requirements:
Meats
Selling meats at farmers markets-MDA licenses
Maryland Department of Agriculture
Non-Regulated Meats
Non-USDA-regulated meats like bison and rabbits can be sold on farm without inspection, and have voluntary inspection by the USDA or MDA to sell off the farm. To sell at a farmers market, you need a Producer Mobile Farmer’s Market License.
Regulated Meat and Poultry
For USDA-regulated meats like poultry, cattle, swine, sheep, goat you may need USDA inspection for slaughtering, processing, packaging and labeling. You can sell meat on farm if it is slaughtered, packaged and labeled at a USDA-inspected facility. To sell at a farmers market, you need a Producer Mobile Farmer’s Market License.
Guidelines
Eggs
Selling eggs at farmers markets and roadside stands
Guidelines
MDA’s Egg Quality Assurance program
Guidelines
Food Processing
Food Processing
Food processing guidelines for specific foods like dairy, eggs, meats, baked goods, fruits and vegetables and others.
Guidelines
General Permit Information
Permits and licenses from the Maryland Department of Agriculture on beekeeping, organic certification, pesticides, eggs, grain, weights and measures and others.
Guidelines
Howard County Code of Ordinances
Subtitle 5 – Public Recreation on Private Lands
Section 19.505 – Special Permits
http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=14680
Section 12.107 – Food handling
A food service facility does not include a farmers market, as specified in the Code of Maryland Regulations, section 10.15.03.27 or eggs sold only on a farm in compliance with the code, section 10.15.03.05A(8).
Fruits and Vegetables
Good Agriculture
Good Agriculture Practices certification from the Maryland Department of Agriculture is not mandatory, but recommended if you want to provide products to grocery store chains, schools, hospitals, penal institutions and some restaurants.
Guidelines
Fast Facts
Of Howard County (or 40,000 Acres) is Farmland
Farms in Howard County
Largest Economic Driver in the State (Agriculture & Farming)
Food Scene
Agriculture is part of our lifestyle – meaning you get farm-to-table freshness in every bite of our stellar culinary offerings.
Agriculture Businesses in Howard County
From farms to food processing and distribution, agricultural businesses in Howard County support a nationwide demand.
A Budding Environment for Business
Agricultural business is deeply rooted in Howard County’s economy. Whether it’s food produce processing companies like Coastal Sunbelt Produce, which employs more than 1,050 individuals, or Sysco Food Services in Jessup, which has nearly 700 on-staff production supervisors, logisticians, quality assurance personnel and more, businesses find the talent they need in Howard County.
The Right Nutrients for Growing Employment
The agricultural and food processing workforce in Howard County is supported by several educational institutions. Nearby University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources in College Park, MD offers a diverse range of 20 academic programs and operates 12 research centers, while Howard Community College offers an associate degree in environmental science — cultivating a talent pipeline for food processing companies and farms. Such robust training is evidenced by the US Bureau of Labor Statistic’s report of over 2,000 food processors and more than 1,000 farmers working in the Columbia-Baltimore Metro Area alone in 2022.
A Garden of Possibilities
A wide range of resources are available in Howard County for agricultural businesses. The University of Maryland Extension serves as a valuable hub right in Columbia, MD, offering up-to-date research and expertise in areas spanning food, nutrition, plant agriculture and agribusiness management. The HCEDA plays a crucial role by organizing events to aid new agricultural ventures, in addition to the annual Agricultural Grant for Innovation & Expansion. Countywide initiatives like HoCo Farms actively promote and support local businesses, while opportunities for state and federal grants and loans further enhance the ecosystem for agricultural development.
Featured News + Events
Libraries That Power Our Economy
Howard County is moving forward with a bold new Central Library at the Columbia Lakefront—a transformational project that will serve as both a civic anchor and economic engine for years to come. As County Executive Calvin Ball and HCLS President & CEO Tonya Aikens announced renewed momentum for the project, we are proud to release
SphereHub to Compete at Pumpkin Pitch 2025
The Pumpkin Pitch 2025 is right around the corner and the Maryland Innovation Center will once again open its stage to five promising startups on Tuesday, October 7, from 5–8 PM. Each company has a story, a vision and a solution to some of today’s most pressing challenges. This year, SphereHub is one of the
Appellate Takes the Stage at Pumpkin Pitch
The countdown is on for Pumpkin Pitch 2025, one of Howard County’s most exciting celebrations of entrepreneurship and innovation. On Tuesday, October 7, from 5–8 PM at the Maryland Innovation Center, five incredible startups will pitch their ideas live for a chance to win $10,000 in prizes. Among them is Appellate, a company tackling a
