North Carolina Cottage Food Laws

North Carolina trades an up-front inspection for near-total commercial freedom afterwards. The inspection is free and scheduled through a regional field office.

Fast facts

Permit
Home processing inspection required
Annual sales cap
No limit
Online sales
Allowed
Shipping
Limited

What makes North Carolina different

  • NCDA&CS inspects your home kitchen before you begin
  • Once approved there is no sales cap and no venue restriction
  • You can sell wholesale and ship, which puts NC ahead of most southern states

Where you can sell in North Carolina

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Retail
  • Online
  • Wholesale

What you can and can't make

North Carolina follows the standard cottage food logic: shelf-stable items are in, anything needing refrigeration is out. Check the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services product list for state-specific exceptions.

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

North Carolina labeling requirements

  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 North Carolina

North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services administers cottage food rules in North Carolina.

Last verified:

Visit North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Not legal advice. This summary is for general education. Confirm with North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services before you start selling.

Cottage food laws in other states