Hosting a ticketed dinner in Atlanta: the checklist

Not legal advice. This is a starting checklist, checked 2026-09-25. Rules change and differ by county and city. Talk to a lawyer and confirm with county health (Fulton or DeKalb) before you sell a ticket or open your space.

At a glance

• Cheapest start: a free dinner for friends at home. DPH manual
• Cottage food covers your pound cake, not your plated dinner. A ticketed dinner needs a county health food permit. Rule 40-7-19
• Your home kitchen is out. State rules ban food service in a private home kitchen. DPH rule
• Often the simplest route: book a licensed venue; your tickets cover the rental fee. Chefs pop up on dark nights (anecdotal). Rough Draft

Quick answers

Can I sell tickets to a dinner I cook at home in Atlanta? No. A ticketed dinner needs a county health food permit, and state rules ban food service in a private home kitchen. Rule 40-7-19 DPH rule

What's the simplest legal way to host a ticketed dinner in Atlanta? Often a licensed venue's dark night; your tickets cover the rental fee (anecdotal). Rough Draft Ask whether its permit covers a guest chef (unverified).

Can wine come with the ticket at an Atlanta dinner? Keep drinks out of your ticket; the licensed venue or caterer sells them to guests directly. Entry fees tied to drinks count as payment. DOR Caterer? Confirm with APD that Atlanta accepts its permit.

Start here: one dish, free, at home

Already hosting? Skip to your routes.

• Cook one dish (one protein, one plate) for a few friends at home. Free: no ticket, no donation jar, no public post.
• Let a friend bring a friend. Still free, still invite-only.
• What turns it into a regulated sale in Georgia: advertising in "any form," even word of mouth, makes a dinner public, so a friend-of-a-friend invite can count. A for-profit dinner that takes donations still needs a permit. DPH manual
• When guests start asking to pay, pick a route below.

Your routes, cheapest first

Steps, in order

Already done some of these? Skip them.

Suggested order.

• 1. Talk to a lawyer before you charge anyone. An hour of their time costs less than learning this the hard way.
• 2. Take an ANSI-accredited food-handler course, then ask county health what food service adds. GDA
• 3. Get a business licence (Atlanta starts at $50). Atlanta Sales tax: check with Georgia DOR.
• 4. Book a kitchen. Atlanta Shared Kitchen is $375 a month. ASK
• 5. Get your Fulton or DeKalb permit. Fulton
• 6. Get liability cover. Venues often want $1M to $2M naming them. cateringbizinsurance FLIP
• 7. Sort your drinks plan: see Drinks below.
• 8. Put the fee, deposit, permit cover and drinks plan in writing.
• 9. List your night.

Drinks

• Cheapest sure route: a licensed venue's night (it sells the drinks) or an alcohol-free menu. Atlanta's permit needs an existing Atlanta licence. Atlanta § 10-126
• Licensed caterer: only a restaurant, bar or bottle shop with state and local alcohol licences qualifies (local fee, up to $5,000 a year). Private chefs can't. § 3-11-2
• Each event: a local permit and DOR notice 5 business days ahead; the caterer's 21-plus staff make every sale. Atlanta has no catering permit in code; ask APD first (unverified). § 3-11-3 Rule 560-2-13
• Keep drinks out of your ticket; the licensed venue or caterer sells them to guests directly. Entry fees tied to drinks count as payment. DOR
• BYOB: banned in Forsyth, Alpharetta, Roswell and Johns Creek; Atlanta's unverified. GWB Hired bartenders don't fix a ticketed night. DOR

Watch-outs

• Insurance: homeowners policies exclude activity for money. Some policies exempt small side income; get it in writing from your insurer. ISO HO-3
• From people who've done it: clubs move from home into licensed venues as they grow (anecdotal). AJC

Learn more

• DPH food service rules
• Fulton temporary food events

Cost your micro hospitality night before you set a price: try the free Planner.

Not legal advice. Confirm with a lawyer and county health (Fulton or DeKalb) before you act.