Cottage Food Laws by State

A plain-English, state-by-state guide to cottage food laws: permits, sales limits, allowed foods, labeling rules and where you can legally sell homemade baked goods from your home kitchen.

All 51 state guides

Foods generally allowed

  • Breads, rolls, biscuits and buns
  • Cakes, cupcakes and brownies (without cream-cheese or custard fillings)
  • Cookies, bars and biscotti
  • Fruit pies and fruit-filled pastries
  • Candy, brittle, fudge and chocolate-covered items
  • Dry mixes, granola, popcorn and roasted nuts
  • Jams, jellies and preserves made from high-acid fruit

Foods generally prohibited

  • Cheesecake and cream-cheese frostings or fillings
  • Custard, meringue, pudding and Bavarian-cream pies
  • Anything containing meat, poultry or seafood
  • Fresh-dairy items, ice cream and buttercream that requires refrigeration
  • Canned vegetables, salsas and other low-acid canned goods
  • Garlic-in-oil, pickled goods and fermented foods (in most states)
  • Kombucha, juices and other beverages requiring a process authority

Common labeling requirements

  • The name and physical address of your home kitchen business
  • The common name of the product
  • A full ingredient list in descending order by weight
  • Allergen declaration for the major allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
  • Net weight or volume
  • A cottage food disclosure such as "Made in a home kitchen that is not subject to routine state inspection"

Not legal advice. Always confirm current rules with your state agency.