Cottage food rules
Free Cottage Food License in NY: What It Really Costs
What the free New York registration covers, and what it asks of you.
On this page
What to remember
- Registering under the Home Processor Exemption is free.
- It exempts you from Article 20-C licensing.
- All items must be sold within New York State.
- Everything must be pre-packaged and properly labeled in your home.
- You cannot package food at a craft fair or farmers market.
If you have been holding off on selling your bakes because you assumed a license meant a fee, this page is for you. New York covers home bakers under the Home Processor Exemption, and registering for it does not cost anything. Bakers just over the border in Connecticut work under a different set of rules, which is a good reminder to always check the state where you actually sell.
What the free New York registration is
The Home Processor Exemption is an exemption from Article 20-C licensing, and it is run by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. It allows you to make and sell a range of shelf-stable foods from your own home kitchen. Certain baked goods, jellies, and snack mixes may qualify, so confirm your item is on the allowed list before you register.
The exemption covers more than a table at the market. Wholesale sales to New York restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores are allowed under the Home Processor exemption, provided the products are on the allowed list. That opens the door to regular weekly orders from a local cafe, not just single sales.
Check that your item qualifies
Certain baked goods, jellies, and snack mixes may qualify for the Home Processor Exemption. Confirm your item is on the allowed list before you go further.
Register with the Department of Agriculture and Markets
New York lets home bakers sell homemade food from their own kitchen under the exemption once they register for free. There is no Article 20-C license to buy.
Package everything at home
Every item must be pre-packaged in your home kitchen. Packaging at an agricultural event such as a craft fair or farmers market is not permitted.
Label each item
Under the home processing rules, items must be properly labeled. Get the label on the package at home, before the food leaves your kitchen.
Sell inside New York State
All items must be sold within New York State. Keep your orders and deliveries inside the state line.
Where you can sell, and where you cannot
You can sell to customers in New York, and you can sell wholesale to New York restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores as long as the products are on the allowed list. What you cannot do is cross state lines. All items must be sold within New York State. If you take orders from nearby Massachusetts customers, that sits outside the exemption.
Getting your bakes labeled and ready to sell
Labeling is the part home bakers underestimate. Under the exemption, items must be properly labeled, and the label has to be on the package before the food leaves your home. Build labeling into your baking day rather than treating it as an afterthought. If you want to see how another state handles home bakers, the Ohio guide walks through it.
Once your packaging and labels are handled at home, the rest is ordinary shopkeeping. Know what each bake costs you before you set a price, keep track of what is in the pantry, and plan the week around the orders you have already taken. That is the difference between a hobby that sells and a small business that pays.
Open the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
Common questions
Is there a fee for the New York home processor registration?
No. New York lets home bakers sell homemade food from their own kitchen under the Home Processor Exemption once they register for free with the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Do I need an Article 20-C license to sell my bakes?
The Home Processor Exemption is an exemption from Article 20-C licensing, which is run by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. Registering under the exemption is how home bakers sell shelf-stable foods from home.
Can I sell my bakes to restaurants and grocery stores?
Yes. Wholesale sales to New York restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores are allowed under the Home Processor exemption, provided the products are on the allowed list.
Can I package my bakes at the farmers market?
No. Packaging of food items at an agricultural event such as a craft fair or farmers market is not permitted under the home processing rules. All items must be pre-packaged in the home and properly labeled.
Can I sell to customers in another state?
No. Under the Home Processor Exemption, all items must be sold within New York State.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the details with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets before you sell.