Cottage food rules
Forrager Cottage Food Laws: How to Use It
A clear way to use Forrager to find your state's cottage food rules and check them.
On this page
What to remember
- Forrager says it covers cottage food laws in every state.
- Each Forrager law page has a Resources section with links to online resources.
- The Institute for Justice map, AFDO, the National Agricultural Law Center, and Cottage Food Law Library are other places to check.
- Check the rules for your state before you take orders.
If you are still sorting out the federal side, read federal cottage food laws first. When you want to see how one state’s rules can be laid out, a state guide such as Connecticut cottage food law shows the kind of detail to look for. Both can help you ask better questions when you open a Forrager state page.
What Forrager gives you
Forrager states that it provides the most up-to-date information about cottage food laws in every state. You can go to its laws page, choose your state, and read the summary. Each Forrager law page includes a Resources section at the bottom that links to online resources supporting the information on that page. That section is where you can see what the summary is based on.
Check the details that matter
The Institute for Justice map lets you click on a state to find its cottage food laws, regulations, and statutes. AFDO’s cottage food regulatory guidance page provides state-specific laws and guidance covering licensing, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and permissible homemade foods.
The National Agricultural Law Center compiles statutes and regulations for each state that has a cottage food or home-based food production law. Cottage Food Law Library compares cottage food laws for all 50 states plus DC, covering registration, inspection, training, annual sales caps, allowed-foods models, and online selling.
Use more than one source
Forrager is a useful first stop, but it is not the only place to look. The Resources section on each Forrager page links to online resources supporting that page’s information. You can also use the Institute for Justice map, AFDO guidance, the National Agricultural Law Center, and Cottage Food Law Library to compare and confirm what applies to your bakes.
Before you take orders
Once you know the rules for your state, write down the details you need to follow. Keep your labels, your sales records, and your answers to customer questions where you can find them. Then use your state’s rules to decide what you can sell and how you can sell it. If you want another state example, Cottage Food License in NC shows how one state’s rules can be covered.
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Common questions
What is Forrager?
Forrager states that it provides the most up-to-date information about cottage food laws in every state. Its laws page is organized by state, and each state page includes a Resources section at the bottom.
Does Forrager show where its information comes from?
Each Forrager law page includes a Resources section at the bottom that links to online resources supporting the information on that page.
Where else can I compare cottage food laws?
Cottage Food Law Library compares cottage food laws for all 50 states plus DC, covering registration, inspection, training, annual sales caps, allowed-foods models, and online selling. The Institute for Justice map lets you click on a state to find its cottage food laws, regulations, and statutes.
What details should I check before I sell?
AFDO's cottage food regulatory guidance page provides state-specific laws and guidance covering licensing, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and permissible homemade foods. Use it with the Forrager Resources section to confirm what applies to your bakes.
Is Forrager enough on its own?
Forrager is a starting point. The National Agricultural Law Center compiles statutes and regulations for each state that has a cottage food or home-based food production law, and other references can help you compare and confirm details.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Check the current rules for your state before you sell.