Cottage food laws 101: what you can sell from home

What cottage food actually means

A cottage food law lets you make certain foods in your home kitchen and sell them, without renting a licensed commercial kitchen. It's the on-ramp that makes a farmers market business possible for most first-time makers.

What's usually allowed

The common thread is non-potentially-hazardous foods, shelf-stable items that don't need refrigeration to stay safe. That typically includes breads and cookies, jams and jellies, granola, dry mixes, and some candies. Foods that need refrigeration, cheesecakes, most cream-filled items, fresh salsas, anything with meat, usually fall outside cottage food rules.

What changes from state to state

This is the part to get right: the details are set by each state, and sometimes the county. States differ on the list of allowed foods, whether you need a permit or a short training course, labeling requirements, whether you can sell online or ship, and sometimes an annual sales limit. Two neighboring states can have very different rules.

How to find your rules

Search for "[your state] cottage food law" and look for the official state Department of Agriculture or Department of Health page. That's the source of truth, not a Facebook group. If anything is unclear, call them; inspectors would rather answer a question than write you up.

Labeling basics

Most states require a label with your product name, your name and address, the ingredients in descending order by weight, allergen information, the net weight, and often a statement that the food was made in a home kitchen not subject to state inspection. Check your state's exact wording.

When to level up

As you grow, you may outgrow cottage food limits and move to a shared commercial kitchen, which opens up refrigerated and wholesale products. That's a good problem, it means demand is real.

This is educational information, not legal advice. Always confirm with your state and local authorities before selling.