South Carolina Cottage Food Laws

South Carolina's home-based food production rules are administered by the Department of Agriculture (SCDA). Use SCDA's current guidance rather than older DHEC material.

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 South Carolina sources on November 2, 2026: permit, online sales and shipping. Anything not marked as checked is our summary — check with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Fast facts

Permit
No license or permit (registration optional) (checked)
Annual sales cap
No limit (summary)
Online sales
Allowed (checked)
Shipping
Limited (checked)

What makes South Carolina different

  • No licenses, permits or mandatory applications under the Home-Based Food Production Law; registration is optional
  • Online and mail-order sales are allowed, with delivery within South Carolina
  • Retail stores may sell your products if they post the required sign

Where you can sell in South Carolina

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Online and mail order (delivery within South Carolina)
  • Retail stores (with the required sign)
  • Events

What you can and can't make

These lists describe what most cottage food laws allow and prohibit. They aren't South Carolina's official product list: check the South Carolina Department of Agriculture for the foods South Carolina 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

South Carolina labeling requirements

Most states require the elements below. South Carolina's exact list may differ, so confirm it with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

  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 South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture administers cottage food rules in South Carolina. Their page is the authoritative, current version of everything summarized here.

Visit the South Carolina Department of Agriculture

Sources we checked on November 2, 2026:

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Cottage food laws in other states