Texas Cottage Food Law and Honey: What You Can Sell

On this page

1. Honey is not a Texas cottage food
2. What license and rules apply
3. Where you can sell, and what to check
4. What this means for your home baking income

If you are sorting out what belongs under the Texas cottage food law, start with the general rule. A Texas cottage food law explainer describes the law as allowing food entrepreneurs to operate small food businesses and produce low-risk food products if prepared properly in an unlicensed kitchen. Our guide to Texas cottage food law and eggs looks at another common question. Honey has its own answer.

Honey is not a Texas cottage food

The Texas Apiary Inspection Service page on bottling and selling states that honey is not included as a cottage industry. The page also notes prohibitions for the cottage food industry and very limited selling options, such as no wholesaling and no internet sales. Do not treat honey like a standard cottage food just because you make it at home. The state guidance points to a different set of rules.

What license and rules apply

The City of Amarillo states that to sell honey as food in Texas you must follow the rules for Good Manufacturing Practices and obtain a food manufacturing license. A 2015 Texas Senate bill analysis notes that under then-current Texas law, a beekeeper who extracts honey produced by his own bees, puts it into a container, labels it and offers it for sale falls under manufactured foods regulations. The AgriLife fact sheet covers the rules for those who qualify as a Beekeeper or Cottage Food Operator, and directs readers to the Texas Department of State Health Services for information on becoming a licensed food manufacturer. The same fact sheet explains the legal differences between selling raw honey from your hives and operating as a cottage food vendor, and states that either way you must follow Texas law.

Where you can sell, and what to check

The Chambers County explainer says foods sold under the Texas Cottage Food Law can be sold almost anywhere, as long as the product is sold directly and delivered to the consumer at the point of sale or another designated location. That flexibility applies to foods that fit the cottage food law. For honey, the Texas Apiary Inspection Service page notes very limited selling options, including no wholesaling and no internet sales. Check those limits before you plan a market table or an online order form.

1. 1

   Confirm what you are selling

   If you sell honey itself, start with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service guidance. If you sell a cottage food, start with the cottage food explainer and the DSHS page.

2. 2

   Check the license

   The City of Amarillo says selling honey as food in Texas requires following Good Manufacturing Practices and obtaining a food manufacturing license.

3. 3

   Check the selling limits

   The Texas Apiary Inspection Service page notes no wholesaling and no internet sales for honey.

4. 4

   Check the labels

   The DSHS cottage food production page provides food labeling information for cottage food production. For cottage food labels, our guide to the Texas cottage food law disclaimer explains what your label says.

5. 5

   Ask before you print

   If anything is unclear, contact the state or your local health department before you print labels or take orders.

What this means for your home baking income

Honey is a separate question from cottage foods. If you sell baked goods and you also keep bees, keep the honey rules separate from the cottage food rules. The Texas Apiary Inspection Service states that honey is not included as a cottage industry. The AgriLife fact sheet explains the legal differences between selling raw honey from your hives and operating as a cottage food vendor. If you are building a shop for baked goods, do not add honey sales until you have checked the license and selling limits.

The Texas Department of State Health Services cottage food production page provides information on licensing, training materials and food labeling for cottage food production in Texas. Use it for cottage food questions. For honey, use the honey guidance and the food manufacturing license direction from Amarillo and AgriLife.

Common questions

Is honey a cottage food in Texas?

No. The Texas Apiary Inspection Service states that honey is not included as a cottage industry. The page also notes very limited selling options, such as no wholesaling and no internet sales.

What license do I need to sell honey in Texas?

The City of Amarillo states that to sell honey as food in Texas you must follow the rules for Good Manufacturing Practices and obtain a food manufacturing license. The AgriLife fact sheet directs readers to the Texas Department of State Health Services for information on becoming a licensed food manufacturer.

Can I sell honey online in Texas?

The Texas Apiary Inspection Service page notes no internet sales as one of the very limited selling options for honey. Check the state guidance before you take online orders.

What is the difference between a beekeeper and a cottage food operator?

The AgriLife fact sheet explains the legal differences between selling raw honey from your hives and operating as a cottage food vendor. It states that either way you must follow Texas law.

Where can I find Texas cottage food labeling information?

The Texas Department of State Health Services cottage food production page provides information on licensing, training materials and food labeling for cottage food production in Texas.

Sources

1. Texas Senate bill analysis, SB 1766
2. City of Amarillo, cottage food and farmers markets
3. Texas Apiary Inspection Service, bottling and selling
4. Ennis, Texas cottage food law explainer
5. Chambers County, Texas Cottage Food Law
6. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, selling honey in Texas
7. AgriLife, Selling Honey in Texas fact sheet
8. Texas DSHS, Texas cottage food production

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change. Check with the Texas Department of State Health Services or a qualified professional before you sell.