South Carolina Cottage Food Laws

South Carolina moved oversight from DHEC to the Department of Agriculture, so make sure any guide you read references SCDA.

Fast facts

Permit
Registration required
Annual sales cap
No limit
Online sales
Limited
Shipping
Not allowed

What makes South Carolina different

  • Registration with SCDA is required but there's no inspection for standard cottage foods
  • No annual sales cap
  • Sales must be direct to the end consumer, not wholesale

Where you can sell in South Carolina

  • Direct to consumer
  • Farmers markets
  • Home pickup
  • Events

What you can and can't make

South Carolina follows the standard cottage food logic: shelf-stable items are in, anything needing refrigeration is out. Check the South Carolina Department of Agriculture 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

South 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 South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Agriculture administers cottage food rules in South Carolina.

Last verified:

Visit South Carolina Department of Agriculture

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

Cottage food laws in other states