Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Law Alabama: What Home Bakers Need
A plain guide to what Alabama home bakers can sell, how to register, and what to print on every label.
On this page
What to remember
- The law covers certain non-potentially hazardous foods made in your home.
- Baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, and dried herb and herb mixes are excluded from State Department of Health regulation when made at home.
- No license or food service permit is required for homemade cottage foods.
- You register with your county health department and complete an approved food safety course.
- Labels need your name and address, the not inspected statement, and the ingredient list.
The law took effect in 2014 and was revised in 2021. It is built around foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. That is the line to check before you plan a menu. If you are still sorting out what you can make, start with Alabama cottage food law requirements.
What you can make and sell
Under Alabama law, cottage food is a non-potentially hazardous food prepared in a person’s home. It must not require time or temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. The law allows individuals to produce certain nonhazardous foods in their own homes.
In-home production of baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, and dried herb and herb mixes is excluded from regulation by the State Department of Health. Non-potentially hazardous items that contain less than 3% alcohol may be sold under the Cottage Food Law. Those two points cover a lot of home bakery work, but they are not a green light for every recipe.
Before you add a new item, read the recipe with the definition in mind. If it needs time or temperature control for safety, it does not fit the cottage food definition. That is the simplest way to keep your menu inside the law.
Register with your county and take the course
Alabama does not require a license or food service permit to sell homemade cottage foods. Instead, you register your operation with the county health department and complete an approved food safety course. The Alabama cottage food law application guide walks through registration, and Alabama cottage food law certification covers the course.
Confirm your food is allowed
Start with the definition. Your food must be non-potentially hazardous and made in your home.
Register with your county health department
File your cottage food operation with the county health department before you sell.
Complete an approved food safety course
Take a course approved for Alabama cottage food operators.
Label every item
Put your operation name and address, the not inspected statement, and the ingredient list on the label.
What your label must say
Every cottage food label needs three things: the name and address of the cottage food operation, a statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department, and a list of the ingredients. Keep the wording plain and put it on every item you sell. The Alabama cottage food law labels guide has a checklist you can print.
A simple way to stay ready
Once your food is allowed, the work is repeatable: register, take the course, label every item, and keep your order details clear. Brevl works on a computer and on a phone, and it takes card payments through your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. A real person answers, usually within minutes.
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Common questions
Do I need a license to sell cottage food in Alabama?
No. Alabama does not require a license or food service permit to sell homemade cottage foods. You register your operation with the county health department and complete an approved food safety course.
What foods can I sell under the Alabama Cottage Food Law?
The law covers certain non-potentially hazardous foods made in your home. In-home production of baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, and dried herb and herb mixes is excluded from State Department of Health regulation. Non-potentially hazardous items with less than 3% alcohol may also be sold.
What has to be on my label?
Your label must include the name and address of the cottage food operation, a statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department, and a list of the ingredients.
When did the Alabama Cottage Food Law start?
It went into effect in 2014 and was revised in 2021.
Can I sell a food that needs refrigeration?
The law is built around non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require time or temperature control for safety. If a food needs that control, it does not fit the cottage food definition.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your situation, check with your county health department or a lawyer.