Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Law Update: What to Check in Your State
A plain way to check what changed in your state before you take another order.
On this page
What to remember
- Check your state’s current cottage food page before you sell.
- Allowed foods and labeling can differ from one state to the next.
- Some states exempt certain home foods from permits, but with limits.
- Keep a copy of what you checked and when.
If you bake from your kitchen and sell to neighbors, the phrase cottage food law update can feel vague. The useful question is simpler: what does my state allow today, and what do I need to file or label? Start with Cottage Food Law: What Home Bakers Need to Check and then narrow down to your state.
Why there is no single national update
The Association of Food and Drug Officials provides state-specific cottage food laws and guidance covering licensing, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and permissible homemade foods. That is why a national headline is less useful than your state’s own page. Use the national lists as a starting point, then read your state’s page.
Florida is one example. Cottage food operators in Florida can produce and sell their products directly to consumers without obtaining a food permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Florida law also says a cottage food operation’s refusal to permit the department’s authorized officer or employee entry to the premises, or to conduct an inspection, is grounds for disciplinary action under s. 500.12.
What an update can change
Alabama’s cottage food law changes include additional foods allowed to be sold and additional requirements for the producer. California is different again: the California Department of Public Health does not permit or register Cottage Food Operations, but it maintains the approved Cottage Food Operations foods list.
In Virginia, Section 3.2-5130 of the Code of Virginia allows certain low risk foods, acidified vegetables, and honey to be made in a private home without VDACS inspection, subject to certain restrictions. Virginia’s exemption only allows a list of low risk foods that do not require time or temperature control for safety after preparation. Virginia also says food establishments, including private homes, that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for sale are subject to the Virginia Food and Drink Law and its related regulations.
A simple way to check your own state
Find your state page
Use the Association of Food and Drug Officials state list to find your state’s cottage food laws and guidance.
Write down your menu
List every bake you plan to sell and compare it with the foods your state allows.
Check labels and filing
Look for labeling rules, registration steps, and any permit or inspection limits.
Save what you used
Keep the date you checked and the page you read with your shop records.
The goal is not to memorize every rule. The goal is to know where your state’s current page lives and to check it before you add a new bake or take a big order.
What to do before your next order
Before you take another order, check the current rules for your state and the foods on your menu. If you are just starting, the cottage food law list helps you find what to check in your state. If you are ready to file, see cottage food law registration for what to file and where. For the labels and limits that trip bakers up, read cottage food law requirements.
Common questions
Is there a national cottage food law update?
No. Cottage food laws and guidance are state-specific, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials keeps a resource covering licensing, food safety, labeling, and allowed homemade foods.
Does Florida require a food permit for cottage food?
Cottage food operators in Florida can produce and sell directly to consumers without a food permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Refusing entry or an inspection is grounds for disciplinary action under s. 500.12.
What can Virginia home bakers make without VDACS inspection?
Section 3.2-5130 allows certain low risk foods, acidified vegetables, and honey to be made in a private home without VDACS inspection, subject to restrictions. The exemption only covers a list of low risk foods that do not require time or temperature control after preparation.
Does California register cottage food operations?
The California Department of Public Health does not permit or register Cottage Food Operations. It does maintain the approved Cottage Food Operations foods list.
What changed in Alabama's cottage food law?
Alabama's cottage food law changes include additional foods allowed to be sold and additional requirements for the producer.
Where should I check my own state?
Use the Association of Food and Drug Officials state-specific cottage food laws and guidance, then confirm the details with your state agriculture or health department before you sell.
Sources
- Association of Food and Drug Officials: Cottage Foods Laws and Guidance
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Cottage Foods
- Florida Statutes 2024, Section 500.80
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Kitchen Bill FAQ
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Dairy, Kitchen, and Food Services Businesses
- Virginia Department of Health: HB759 Job Aid
- Alabama Public Health: Cottage Food
- California Department of Public Health: Cottage Food Operations
General information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change and differ by state. Check your state's current page or ask your state agency before you sell.