Cottage food rules
Home Bakery License in Connecticut: What You Need
A plain guide to the Connecticut cottage food license, from application to your first sale.
On this page
What to remember
- The license is a Cottage Food Operator license from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
- Apply before you sell. The license is annual.
- The process includes a food safety course, zoning compliance, a water requirement, and a kitchen inspection.
- Connecticut caps cottage food sales at $50,000.
- The DCP cottage foods page and the Cottage Food manual list what you can sell and how to label it.
The 2018 Connecticut cottage food law lets a licensed operator prepare and sell certain foods directly to customers without using a commercial kitchen. That does not mean every bake is allowed or that you can skip the paperwork. The license, the application, and the manual set the boundaries for what you make and how you sell it.
What the Connecticut license covers
The DCP cottage foods page lists the items you can and cannot sell, safety regulations, required sales practices, and the application requirements. The Connecticut Cottage Food manual covers license requirements, labeling requirements, location requirements, and what types of food you are able to produce. Read both before you settle on a menu. For a closer look at the state rules, see Connecticut cottage food law.
For the foods covered by the law, your kitchen does not have to be a commercial kitchen. The application process still includes zoning compliance and a water requirement, and a kitchen inspection is part of the path to the $50 DCP license.
How to get your Connecticut cottage food license
Check your location first
Before you apply, check zoning compliance and the water requirement. Both are part of the Connecticut process.
Take a food safety course
The application process includes a completed food safety course. Finish it before you send your application.
Prepare for a kitchen inspection
A kitchen inspection is part of getting the $50 DCP license. Have your kitchen ready for that visit.
Apply for the annual license
Send your Cottage Food Operator application to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Food and Standards Division. The license is annual and the fee is $50. Do this before you sell.
Read the manual and label your bakes
The Connecticut Cottage Food manual covers labeling requirements and location requirements. Use it to set your labels and decide where you can sell.
Watch the $50,000 cap
Connecticut caps cottage food sales at $50,000. Keep a simple sales record so you know where you stand.
After you are licensed
Once the license is active, the work shifts to selling within the rules. Keep your labels in line with the manual, sell only what the DCP page and manual allow, and track sales against the $50,000 cap. If you are working out what to charge, home bakery license cost walks through the fees and setup costs.
The DCP cottage foods page is the place to confirm the current application requirements and the items you can and cannot sell. The Cottage Food manual is where you check labeling and location rules. For help reading state cottage food rules, Forrager cottage food laws explains how to use that resource.
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Common questions
Do I need a license to sell baked goods from home in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut requires a Cottage Food Operator license from the Department of Consumer Protection, Food and Standards Division, before you sell.
How much does the Connecticut cottage food license cost?
The DCP license fee is $50. The process also includes a food safety course, zoning compliance, a water requirement, and a kitchen inspection.
How long is the license good for?
The Cottage Food Operator license is annual.
Is there a sales limit?
Yes. Connecticut caps cottage food sales at $50,000.
Can I use my home kitchen?
Yes. The 2018 Connecticut cottage food law allows license holders to prepare and sell certain foods directly to customers without using a commercial kitchen.
What can I sell?
The DCP cottage foods page lists items you can and cannot sell. The Cottage Food manual covers what types of food you are able to produce and the labeling requirements.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change. Confirm requirements with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection before you sell.