Cottage food rules
Cottage Food Laws NY: What Home Bakers Can Sell
Know the New York home food rules before you take your first paid order.
On this page
What to remember
- New York calls it the Home Processor Exemption.
- Registration is free, with no permit fee listed.
- The material lists no annual sales cap.
- No renewal is listed, and registration stays valid until you move.
- Certain baked goods, jellies, and snack mixes may qualify.
If you bake from your home kitchen in New York, start with the food you want to sell, not the name of the exemption. The state material says certain baked goods, jellies, and snack mixes may qualify. That word certain matters. Before you print labels, buy packaging, or take a paid order, check the current state page and confirm your item is on the allowed list. For label wording, see what goes on your label and cottage food label rules.
Who runs the exemption
The Home Processor Exemption is run by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. It lets you prepare food in your home kitchen and sell homemade food from your own kitchen. You register for free with the Department of Agriculture. The material says there is no permit fee, no annual sales cap, and no renewal. Registration stays valid until you move. That gives you a clear starting point: one free registration, no yearly renewal date to track, and no stated sales limit.
Because no annual sales cap is listed, there is no stated dollar limit in the material. Because no renewal is listed, you do not have a yearly renewal form to file. If you move, the registration stays valid until that point, so treat a move as the time to check your registration again. Keep a copy of your registration with your business papers.
One source also says wholesale selling is allowed under the exemption. If you want to sell to a shop, cafe, or market that buys in larger amounts, confirm the details with the department before you agree to the order. Wholesale can change your batch size, your packaging, and your delivery plan. Do not promise a large order until you know your food fits the exemption and your label is ready.
What to put in place before your first sale
Once you know your food qualifies, set up the parts of your home food business that touch the customer. Your label, your packaging, and your order records should match the food you actually sell. If you use eggs, read cottage food laws and eggs before you build a recipe around them. Keep your ingredient list and your costing in one place so you can answer questions and price your bakes with confidence.
New York’s material focuses on the exemption and registration. It does not replace a conversation with the department about your specific food. If your recipe changes, if you add a new item, or if you move, check the state page again. Rules can change, and a guide like this one is only a starting point.
A simple way to stay on track
Write down what you sell, where you sell it, and how you label it. Keep your free registration where you can find it. If you sell wholesale, keep the details of each buyer and each order. If you sell direct to customers, keep your order notes and payment records together. The goal is not paperwork for its own sake. The goal is to know that your food fits the exemption and that you can show what you sold if a customer or the department asks.
Pick your item
Match your recipe to the state list of foods that may qualify, such as certain baked goods, jellies, and snack mixes.
Register for free
Register with the New York Department of Agriculture before you sell.
Confirm the details
Check the Department of Agriculture and Markets page for your food and your setup.
Set your label and records
Decide what goes on your label and keep your registration and order notes together.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to sell homemade baked goods in New York?
New York uses a free Home Processor Exemption. You register with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the material says there is no permit fee.
Is there an annual sales cap?
The material lists no annual sales cap and no sales limit for the exemption.
Do I have to renew my registration?
No renewal is listed. The material says registration stays valid until you move.
Can I sell wholesale?
One source says wholesale selling is allowed under the exemption. Confirm the details with the department before you take a wholesale order.
Which foods may qualify?
The state material names certain baked goods, jellies, and snack mixes as foods that may qualify. Check your specific recipe before you sell.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules can change. Confirm your food and your setup with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets before you sell.