Cottage food rules
Maine Cottage Food License Application: What to File
A plain walk through the Maine Home Food License, from the form to the fee.
On this page
What to remember
- The Maine Home Food License costs $20 a year.
- You need it, plus a kitchen inspection, before you sell shelf stable homemade food.
- The state sets no sales cap on what you earn.
- You can file and pay online with a Visa or Mastercard.
If you have been baking for neighbors and want to make it official, the paperwork is shorter than most people expect. The Maine cottage food laws set out what you can sell and where, and this guide walks the application itself.
What the license lets you do
A Maine home food license allows you to produce and sell shelf stable food products from your home and at wholesale. The state sets no sales cap, so there is no dollar limit on what you earn in a year. The trade off is that the rules ask for a Home Food Processor license and a kitchen inspection before you sell shelf stable homemade food, so build both into your timeline before you take your first paid order.
What the state checks before it says yes
Maine issues a Home Food License when department staff determine that three things are in place: proper labeling, general sanitation, and adequate food protection. Read that list as your to do list. Labels that name what is in the package, a kitchen that is clean and orderly, and ingredients stored and handled so they stay safe are what the inspection is looking at.
How to file the application
Get the form
Maine DACF publishes its permits and licenses application forms, including the Home Food License 101 document, on its Quality Assurance and Regulations site. Download the current version rather than an old copy.
Fill it in
Give your name, your home address and the foods you plan to make. Keep it to shelf stable bakes, since the license covers shelf stable products.
Get your kitchen ready
The rules call for a kitchen inspection, so clean and organize your work space and store your ingredients where they belong before anyone visits.
Submit it
ALMS Online Services lets you submit license, registration and permit applications online. If you would rather not file online, send the form in to Maine DACF.
Pay the $20
The fee is $20 a year. Online payments through ALMS take a Visa or Mastercard.
Note your renewal
Maine’s permit requirements include renewal rules, so write the renewal date somewhere you will see it before it comes around.
If you have filed a food application in another state, the shape will feel familiar. Our walk through the Kentucky cottage food application shows how one state lays out its form, and the Iowa home bakery license requirements cover a different route entirely.
Once the license is yours, the next question is what to charge. Knowing your real cost per batch keeps a $20 fee from eating into a week of baking.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
- Maine cottage food laws for home bakers
- Kentucky cottage food application, form DFS-250
- Iowa home bakery license requirements
Common questions
How much does the Maine cottage food license cost?
The Maine Home Food License fee is $20 per year. You can pay it online through ALMS Online Services with a Visa or Mastercard.
Do I need an inspection to get the license?
Yes. Maine's cottage food rules require a Home Food Processor license and a kitchen inspection before you sell shelf stable homemade food. The state issues the license when staff determine that labeling, general sanitation and food protection are all in order.
Can I sell wholesale with a Maine Home Food License?
Yes. A Maine home food license allows you to produce and sell shelf stable food products from your home and at wholesale.
Is there a limit on how much I can sell?
No. The state sets no sales cap under its cottage food rules.
Where do I find the application form?
Maine DACF publishes the permits and licenses application forms, including the Home Food License 101 document, on its Quality Assurance and Regulations site. You can also submit and pay through ALMS Online Services.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules can change, so confirm the current form and fee with Maine DACF before you file.