Cottage food rules
Does Maine Have Cottage Food Laws? What Home Bakers Can Sell
A plain look at Maine's home food rules so you know what to check before you sell a single bake.
On this page
What to remember
- Maine’s permit for home food producers is called a Home Food license.
- Only shelf-stable foods qualify, which the state describes as non-potentially hazardous.
- You can sell from home, at retail stores, or both.
- Maine sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales.
- The rules are handled by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
If you are baking for neighbors in Maine and want to get paid for it, the state does have a path for you, and it uses its own wording. It helps to start with what cottage food laws are before you dig into the Maine details, because the name on the permit is not the name you will hear in other states.
What the Home Food license covers
Maine offers a Home Food license that allows producers to make certain products at home and sell them from home, at retail stores, or both. The limit that matters most is the food itself. Anything sold under the license has to be shelf-stable, which the state describes as non-potentially hazardous. That one requirement is what shapes most home bakery menus in Maine.
Maine sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales. That means your growth is limited by your own kitchen and your own time rather than by a statutory cap. It also means pricing matters more, since there is no ceiling to bump into and no ceiling to hide behind. If you want a hand working out what a batch really costs you, see what a home bakery license through the Department of Agriculture involves.
What the state checks before it issues a license
Maine issues a Home Food license when department staff determine that four things are in place. There must be proper labeling. General sanitation has to be met. Adequate food protection has to be provided. And thermometers have to be in use where they are required. That is a short list, and it is worth reading twice before you invite anyone to look at your kitchen.
The program is administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, through its Quality Assurance and Regulations division, which publishes the state’s food laws and rules. That is where the current paperwork and the current wording live, so it is the page to check rather than a summary someone shared in a group.
Where the Food Sovereignty Act fits
Maine also has the Maine Food Sovereignty Act, which is set out in Title 7, Chapter 8-F of the Maine Revised Statutes. The Act defines traditional foodways as the cultural, social and economic practices related to the production and consumption of food, including the passing on of knowledge about those practices. It is a separate piece of law from the Home Food license, and it is worth reading the statute itself rather than relying on how someone else describes it.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
The short version for your kitchen
You can sell food you make at home in Maine. You do it under a Home Food license, your products have to be shelf-stable, and the state looks at labeling, sanitation, food protection, and thermometers before it says yes. There is no dollar cap on sales. Start with the state’s own fact sheet and the division that publishes the rules, then build your menu around what actually qualifies.
Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from my Maine kitchen?
Maine offers a Home Food license that allows producers to make certain products at home and sell them from home, at retail stores, or both. Foods sold under it have to be shelf-stable, meaning non-potentially hazardous.
Is there a limit on how much I can sell?
Maine sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales. Your growth is limited by your own kitchen and your time rather than by a statutory cap.
Who runs the program in Maine?
Maine's cottage food rules are administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Quality Assurance and Regulations division, which publishes the state's food laws and rules.
What does the state look at before issuing a Home Food license?
Department staff determine that there is proper labeling, that general sanitation is met, that adequate food protection is provided, and that thermometers are in use where required.
What does shelf-stable mean here?
Maine describes foods sold under the Home Food license as shelf-stable, meaning non-potentially hazardous. Check the state's own fact sheet for the current wording before you plan a menu.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry before you sell.