Alabama Cottage Food Laws

Alabama is one of the friendlier Deep South states now that the sales cap is gone. Sales stay direct to consumers, and the receiving person must be in Alabama.

Important information: Cottage food laws vary by state and may change. This guide is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your state's official regulatory agency before selling homemade food.

Checked against official Alabama sources on November 2, 2026: online sales. One item needs confirmation (marked below). Anything not marked as checked is our summary — check with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Needs confirmation

  • Unresolved: Alabama Cooperative Extension says the 2021 law allows delivery within Alabama by mail; the Department of Public Health page we checked doesn't address mail delivery.

Fast facts

Permit
Food handler training required (summary)
Annual sales cap
No limit (summary)
Online sales
Allowed (checked)
Shipping
Not allowed (unresolved)

What makes Alabama different

  • Alabama removed its $20,000 annual sales cap, so there is no revenue ceiling
  • You must complete an approved food safety course before selling
  • Sales must be direct to the end consumer — no wholesale or retail placement

Where you can sell in Alabama

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Home pickup
  • Local delivery

What you can and can't make

These lists describe what most cottage food laws allow and prohibit. They aren't Alabama's official product list: check the Alabama Department of Public Health for the foods Alabama actually allows.

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

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

Alabama labeling requirements

Most states require the elements below. Alabama's exact list may differ, so confirm it with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

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

Official source for Alabama

The Alabama Department of Public Health administers cottage food rules in Alabama. Their page is the authoritative, current version of everything summarized here.

Visit the Alabama Department of Public Health

Sources we checked on November 2, 2026:

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Cottage food laws in other states