Cottage food rules
Maryland Cottage Food Law: What Home Bakers Need
Know what Maryland allows, what your county adds, and how to sell from your home kitchen with confidence.
On this page
What to remember
- Maryland cottage food businesses are not licensed by the state.
- County and city rules still apply to your home kitchen.
- Sell only cottage foods processed and packaged in Maryland.
- Your product must be produced or packaged in a residential kitchen.
- Check the state guidelines for the foods you may sell.
If you are new to selling from home, start with the state guidelines, then check your county or city. A guide for another state, like Kansas cottage food laws, will not replace the Maryland rules.
What the Maryland law covers
The 2012 law allowed citizens to operate a home-based bakery or home food processing company. The law was updated in 2018. The Maryland Department of Health cottage food guidelines explain which foods may be produced and sold by a Maryland cottage food business. Under the regulations, a cottage food business owner may sell only cottage food products processed and packaged in Maryland that are produced or packaged in a residential kitchen.
Your county and city still have a say
Even though the state does not license cottage food businesses, you must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances. Those local rules cover the preparation, processing, storage, and sale of cottage food products. Before you take orders, call your local health department and ask what applies to your kitchen and your bakes. If you want to see how another state writes its law, the Louisiana state cottage food law is a useful comparison, but Maryland’s own rules are the ones you must follow.
What to check before you sell
Read the state guidelines
Start with the Maryland Department of Health cottage food guidelines. They explain the allowable foods for a Maryland cottage food business.
Confirm your bake is allowed
Use the guidelines to check that the food you want to sell may be produced and sold by a cottage food business.
Call your county or city
Ask your local health department about any county or municipal laws or ordinances for preparation, processing, storage, and sale.
Keep it Maryland and residential
Sell only cottage food products processed and packaged in Maryland that are produced or packaged in a residential kitchen.
Ask the state office
If a rule is unclear, contact the Maryland Department of Health Office of Food Protection at 6 St. Paul Street, Suite 1301, Baltimore, MD 21202, or call (410) 767-8400.
Selling from your home kitchen
Since Maryland does not license cottage food businesses, your job is to stay inside the state guidelines and your local rules. That means knowing which foods are allowed, where they are processed and packaged, and how your county or city expects them to be stored and sold. If you are also looking at how another state handles license applications, the Maine cottage food license application guide is a separate read. For Maryland, use the state guidelines and your local health department as your source of truth.
Your shop can be simple. You do not need a state cottage food license to start, but you do need to know your allowed foods and your local rules before you accept money. Keep your recipes and costs in one place so you can price your bakes and plan your week. When you are ready to take orders, make it easy for customers to see what you sell and how to pay you.
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Common questions
Do I need a license to sell cottage food in Maryland?
No. Cottage food businesses in Maryland are not licensed by the state. You still must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances for preparing, processing, storing, and selling cottage food products.
What foods can I sell under Maryland cottage food law?
The Maryland Department of Health cottage food guidelines explain the allowable foods. You may sell only cottage food products processed and packaged in Maryland that are produced or packaged in a residential kitchen.
Do county rules apply if the state does not license me?
Yes. You must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances regulating preparation, processing, storage, and sale.
When was the Maryland cottage food law passed?
Maryland passed a modified Cottage Law in 2012 and updated it in 2018.
Who can I contact with questions?
Contact the Maryland Department of Health Office of Food Protection at 6 St. Paul Street, Suite 1301, Baltimore, MD 21202, or call (410) 767-8400.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Check the current Maryland guidelines and your local rules before you sell.