Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Law List: What to Check in Your State
A plain way to read a cottage food law list and know what to confirm before you sell.
On this page
What to remember
- The all state table covers 50 states plus Washington DC.
- Seventeen jurisdictions require no state registration for cottage food operations.
- Some states limit the foods you can sell and the amount you can sell each year.
- A list points you to the rule. It does not replace your state agency’s guidance.
If you are just starting, the words on these lists can blur together. Read cottage food law definition first, then use cottage food law guidelines to turn the list into a short checklist. The list is most useful when you know what you are looking for: registration, inspection, training, sales cap, allowed foods, and online selling.
What the list lets you compare
The state by state table puts the same columns next to each other, so you can compare your state with a neighbor without reading a full statute. It covers registration, inspection, training, the annual sales cap, the allowed foods model, and online selling. That helps you see whether your state asks you to register, whether it inspects home kitchens, and whether it caps what you can sell in a year.
Examples you will see on the list
Georgia’s Retail Food section regulates cottage food producers, also known as home-kitchen food operations. Florida lets cottage food operators serve free samples for tasting, but the samples must be prepackaged. Oklahoma’s Home Bakery Act of 2013 took effect on November 1, 2013, allows only certain baked goods, and limits sales to $20,000 per year.
Michigan cottage food operations must comply with labeling and the other provisions in the Michigan Food Law, as well as other applicable state or federal laws or local ordinances. New Hampshire allows home food manufacturing, while many states do not allow it because it can be dangerous if done improperly or in an unsanitary manner and can cause foodborne illness.
Where to confirm your own rules
The Association of Food and Drug Officials maintains a page of state-specific cottage food laws and guidance covering licensing, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and permissible homemade foods. Use that page with your own state’s agriculture or health department before you print labels or take orders. If your state requires a license, our guide to cottage food law license walks through what to check. If you want to know when a cottage food operation may not need a full license, read cottage food law exemption.
Common questions
Does the cottage food law list cover every state?
Yes. The public table compares cottage food laws for all 50 states plus Washington DC. It covers registration, inspection, training, the annual sales cap, the allowed foods model, and online selling.
Do I always need to register?
No. Seventeen jurisdictions require no state registration for cottage food operations. Check your own state line before you assume you need a license or permit.
Why are the rules different from state to state?
Many states do not allow home food manufacturing because it can be dangerous if done improperly or in an unsanitary manner and can cause foodborne illness. New Hampshire does allow home food manufacturing. That is one reason a single national rule does not exist.
What should I check first on the list?
Start with registration or licensing, then check inspection, training, labeling, allowed foods, and the annual sales cap. Our [cottage food law guidelines](/blog/cottage-food-law-guidelines/) turns those columns into a short checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information for home bakers. Confirm your state rules with the agency named for your state before you sell.
Sources
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm your state rules with the agency named in the list before you sell.