Cottage food rules
New Hampshire Cottage Food Law: What Home Bakers Need
A clear look at New Hampshire's homestead food rules, so you know when you can sell from home and when you need a license.
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What to remember
- New Hampshire calls these homestead food operations.
- Selling from home, your own farm stand, farmers’ markets, or retail food stores is exempt from licensure.
- The exemption comes with no fee and no inspection.
- There is no cap on how much you can sell.
- Freeze-dried foods need a license under RSA 143-A:12.
Before you print a single sticker, check what your label needs to say. The rest of this guide walks through the New Hampshire rules in plain terms, so you can plan your sales without guessing.
What New Hampshire calls a home food business
The state uses the term homestead food operations. The program sits with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees food protection for home food manufacturing. That is the office to look at when you want to confirm your own setup.
When you can sell without a license
New Hampshire uses a two-tier system. For many home bakers, the key point is that selling only from your home, your own farm stand, farmers’ markets, or retail food stores is exempt from licensure. The state describes that exemption as having no fee and no inspection. That means you can take orders from your kitchen, set up at a market, or sell to a retail food store without a homestead food license, as long as your sales stay inside those channels.
No sales cap, but your kitchen sets the limit
New Hampshire sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales. You will not hit a state ceiling and have to stop. What does limit you is your own kitchen capacity and time. That is why it helps to know the real cost of each bake before you take on a big order. A clear price helps you decide whether a week of custom cakes is worth the hours. When you are ready to package your bakes, keep a cottage food law label template handy, and use a cottage food law label example if you want to see how the pieces fit together.
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Pet treats are not covered
The homestead food rules apply to human food only. Pet treats are not included under the Homestead food products law. Pet food is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. If you want to sell dog biscuits alongside your cookies, treat that as a separate question and check with the agriculture department before you add it to your menu.
Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my home in New Hampshire?
If you sell only from your home, your own farm stand, farmers' markets, or retail food stores, New Hampshire treats your homestead food operation as exempt from licensure, with no fee and no inspection. Freeze-dried foods are the exception and must be licensed under RSA 143-A:12.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales. Your limit is your own kitchen capacity and time.
Can I sell pet treats under the homestead food law?
No. Pet treats are not included under the Homestead food products law, which applies to human food only. Pet food is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food.
Where can I sell under the exemption?
From your home, your own farm stand, farmers' markets, or retail food stores. Those are the channels the state lists for the licensure exemption.
Do freeze-dried foods need a license?
Yes. Under RSA 143-A:12, a homestead food operation that processes and sells freeze-dried foods from the homestead residence, the owner's own farm stand, farmers' markets, or retail food stores must be licensed.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules can change. Check with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for your own situation.