A Las Vegas mom who turned her home baking hobby into a viral business is now facing a county code violation that could force her to change how she operates.
Lindsay Skolnik, founder of Mama Llama Bakery, has built a loyal following with her homemade cinnamon rolls, attracting 133,000 Instagram followers and 29,000 on TikTok. But she says that viral success may now be working against her.
Clark County code enforcement visited Skolnik's Southwest Las Vegas home on August 3 and issued a notice over her home-based business, according to KTNV.
"The actual complaint was, 'This girl's going viral on Instagram and doing porch pickup,'" the cottage baker told the outlet Tuesday.
Skolnik said she already has a cottage food license and believed she had taken the proper steps to operate legally.
"I got in touch with my HOA, I got in touch with my landlord," Skolnik said about her efforts even before receiving the county notice. "I did everything by the book."
"I'm a mom. That's why I wanted to bake from home," she added.
However, Clark County informed her that home-based businesses cannot have customers come to the residence and require a county business license.
Skolnik has until August 20 to resolve the violation, which is also the day she must cease operations, she said Tuesday in a TikTok.
“Of course, there is always going to be somebody that just isn't happy for you, and goes to the end of the world to try to get you taken down,” Skolnik said. “But this isn't over, and I'm very excited to see what's to come in the next few weeks.”
Skolnik told KTNV that several people have reached out with potential solutions that could help her get back to selling her rolls soon.
“I think we have some plans, which would mean I can get my rolls out sooner than later, and it would bypass the fact that I need a commercial license,” she said.
Skolnik hopes sharing her experience will help other cottage bakers steer clear of similar problems.
"This would mean that all cottage bakeries are at risk if you're going to go viral like I went viral," Skolnik said.
Skolnik also started a Change.org petition to protect cottage food businesses in Nevada.
“Introducing fair and reasonable regulations for residential pickups would not only offer convenience to customers who prefer personal interaction and lower delivery costs but also empower local business owners to maintain and expand their market reach,” Skolnik wrote on the site.
“It aligns with Nevada's support for small businesses and could lead to increased local economic activity while preserving the personal touch that makes each cottage business unique,” she added.
The Independent has contacted Skolnik and Clark County for comment.