# OrderPost — Cottage Food Laws by State (Full Reference)

> Complete cottage food law data for all 50 states. Each entry includes friendliness grade (A-F), revenue cap, license and labeling requirements, allowed and restricted items, sales channels, and recent law changes.

> This is the expanded version of https://www.orderpost.store/llms.txt with inline content.

## How to use this data

- Grades range from A (very friendly) to F (very restrictive).
- Revenue caps are annual unless otherwise noted.
- 'No cap' means the state imposes no revenue limit on cottage food sales.
- Laws change frequently. Each entry includes the primary source URL for verification.
- This data is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

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### Alabama

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/alabama
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Cakes (including wedding cakes), Candy, Condiments, Dried goods, Fermented vegetables/fruits (non-alcoholic), Honey, Jams and jellies, Pastries, Preserves, Roasted coffee, Snacks
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Juices, Meat jerkies, Dairy products
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Roadside stands, Events, Online, Home
- **Notes:** 2021 amendment removed the previous $20,000 sales cap, allowed online sales, in-state shipping, and third-party delivery. Requires food safety training course and county health department approval before selling. Labels need business name, address (or P.O. box), product name, ingredients, and allergen/inspection statement.
- **Notable fact:** Alabama allows wedding cakes to be sold as cottage food — and with no revenue cap plus in-state shipping, a home baker could theoretically build a six-figure wedding cake business from their kitchen.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/alabama/

### Alaska

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/alaska
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Candy, Condiments, Dried goods, Fermented foods, Honey, Jams and jellies, Juices, Kombucha, Meat products (with federal exemption), Pastries, Preserves, Refrigerated foods, Snacks
- **Restricted items:** Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, butter), Seafood, Animal-rendered oils, Alcohol-containing products, Cannabis products
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Events, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Online, Wholesale, Home
- **Notes:** Alaska's 2024 food freedom law (HB 251) replaced the old cottage food law, removing the previous $25,000 cap. Now allows perishable/refrigerated foods and meat products — far more expansive than typical cottage food laws. Requires a state business license but no health department license or kitchen inspection. Mail order and wholesale permitted.
- **Notable fact:** Alaska's 2024 food freedom law lets home cooks sell meat products and refrigerated perishable foods — you could legally sell homemade meat pies and refrigerated meals from your kitchen, something banned in most states.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/alaska/

### Arizona

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/arizona
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy and confections, Condiments (honey, pickles, salsas, sauces, vinegars), Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, butter), Dried goods (cereals, coffee, dried fruit, pasta, spices), Fermented foods, Jams and preserves, Meat products (jerky, tamales — from approved sources), Prepared meals (tamales), Snacks
- **Restricted items:** Raw milk, Alcohol-containing products, Fish and shellfish, Unapproved meat sources, Cannabis products
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Events, Online, Restaurants, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Wholesale, Home
- **Notes:** Arizona has ~10,000 registered producers as of 2024. The 2024 'Tamale Bill' (HB 2042) expanded allowed items to include tamales, prepared meals, dairy, and acidified foods. Requires an ANSI-accredited food handler course and online registration with health department (renew every 3 years). Dairy and meat sold online must be delivered in-person — no third-party delivery apps for those items.
- **Notable fact:** Arizona's 2024 'Tamale Bill' was named after the tamale vendors who lobbied for the right to sell homemade tamales — it expanded the law to allow dairy, meat, and prepared meals, making Arizona one of the most permissive states with over 10,000 registered home food businesses.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/arizona/

### Arkansas

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/arkansas
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Candy, Condiments (honey, pickles, sauces), Dried goods, Fermented foods, Jams and jellies, Pastries, Preserves, Snacks
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Nut butters, Oils, Alcohol-containing baked goods, Meat jerkies, Time/temperature controlled foods
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Events, Online, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Wholesale, Home
- **Notes:** Arkansas replaced its cottage food law with the Food Freedom Act (SB 248/Act 1040) in 2021. No permit, no health department approval, no revenue cap. One of only ~6 states that explicitly allows interstate sales (with federal compliance). Producers can sell through grocery and retail stores. Labeling must include a home kitchen disclaimer and appear on websites for online sales.
- **Notable fact:** Arkansas is one of only about six states that explicitly allows interstate cottage food sales — meaning a home baker in Little Rock can legally ship cookies to customers in other states, as long as they comply with federal food law.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/arkansas/

### California

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/california
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $75,000/year (Class A) or $150,000/year (Class B), adjusted annually for inflation (~$88,878/$177,756 in 2026)
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (no cream/custard fillings), Breads, Candy and confections, Chocolate-covered items, Dried produce, Fruit butters, Granola and cereal bars, Honey, Jams and jellies, Maple syrup, Nuts and nut mixes, Popcorn, Spice blends and dried herbs, Baking mixes
- **Restricted items:** Dairy-based items (cheese, yogurt, custard), Meat, poultry, or seafood, Fermented foods (pickles, kimchi, kombucha), Low-acid canned goods, Perishable foods requiring refrigeration, Salsas and sauces
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Events, Online, Home, Roadside stands, Restaurants (Class B only), Retail stores (Class B only)
- **Notes:** Two-tier system: Class A (direct sales only, no inspection) and Class B (direct + indirect/wholesale, requires kitchen inspection). Revenue caps adjust annually with CPI. Third-party delivery (DoorDash, etc.) allowed statewide for both classes. Food safety training required every 3 years. Maximum one non-household employee. 'Made in a Home Kitchen' label required in 12-point type. All sales must be within California.
- **Notable fact:** California's Class B cottage food permit lets home bakers sell wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores statewide — with an inflation-adjusted cap over $172,000, it's one of the highest revenue limits in the country for a state that requires permits.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/california/

### Colorado

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/colorado
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $10,000 net revenue per product per year (no overall cap — different flavors count as separate products)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, pastries), Candy and chocolates, Coffee and tea, Dried herbs and spices, Eggs (up to 250 dozen/month), Freeze-dried produce, Granola, Jams, jellies, and fruit butters, Nuts, Pickled items (pH 4.6 or below), Popcorn
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Sauces and salsas, Ketchup and mustards, Meat jerkies, Juices and kombucha
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Home, Online, Roadside stands
- **Notes:** Unique per-product revenue limit: $10,000 NET per product per year, but different flavors/variants count as separate products, so total revenue is effectively unlimited if you diversify. No health department license needed — just complete one food handler training option (CSU Extension $50, online card $10-15, or local health dept course). Free pH testing available for pickled goods. A designated representative can sell on your behalf. No interstate sales.
- **Notable fact:** Colorado's cottage food law limits you to $10,000 per product — but strawberry jam and blueberry jam count as two different products, so a producer with 10 flavors could earn $100,000. The loophole-by-design rewards creative diversification.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/colorado/

### Connecticut

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/connecticut
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** $50,000/year
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies), Candy, Dried goods, Granola, Honey, Jams and jellies, Marshmallows, Nuts, Popcorn, Syrups, Vinegars
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Pickles, Pumpkin pie, Salsas and sauces, Ketchup, Juices and kombucha, Meat jerkies, Low-acid canned goods
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online (within CT), Roadside stands, Home, Events
- **Notes:** Requires $50 annual license, home kitchen inspection, ServSafe Food Handler training, and municipal zoning compliance. Revenue cap doubled from $25K to $50K in 2022 (SB 187). Online sales and in-state shipping/mail order allowed within Connecticut only. Cannot sell to restaurants, retail stores, or wholesale. Must renew license by February 28 each year. Only approved products listed on application may be sold.
- **Notable fact:** Connecticut specifically bans pumpkin pie as cottage food (it's considered perishable) — so you can sell apple pie, cherry pie, and blueberry pie from your kitchen, but pumpkin pie requires a commercial license.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/connecticut/

### Delaware

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/delaware
- **Grade:** D
- **Revenue cap:** No cap (removed December 2023)
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** not allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, donuts), Candy and brittles, Jams and jellies, Fruit preserves, Marmalades
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Nut butters, Pickles, Salsas, Dried fruits, Fermented foods, Meat jerkies, Sauces
- **Sales channels:** Direct from home, Farmers markets, Events
- **Notes:** Despite removing the revenue cap in December 2023, Delaware remains one of the most restrictive states. Registration costs $30/year (renew by April 1). Requires a lengthy application, home kitchen inspection, and mandatory 8-hour food safety training ($175). Very narrow list of allowed products. Online sales explicitly prohibited. Labels must include a 10-point minimum cottage food disclaimer.
- **Notable fact:** Delaware requires an 8-hour food safety training course costing $175 just to sell cookies from your home — one of the most burdensome registration processes of any state, despite having one of the narrowest lists of allowed foods.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/delaware/

### Florida

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/florida
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** $250,000/year
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pastries), Candy, Condiments (honey, nut butters, vinegars), Dried fruits, Dry goods, Jams and jellies, Popcorn, Preserves, Snacks, Wedding cakes
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Cream cheese frosting and frostings requiring refrigeration, Acidified foods, Low-acid canned goods, Pickles, Salsas, Fermented foods, Sauces, Meat jerkies, Kombucha
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Flea markets, Events, Online, Roadside stands, Home
- **Notes:** The 2021 'Home Sweet Home Act' raised the cap from $50,000 to $250,000 — one of the highest in the nation. Zero registration, permits, inspections, or fees required. Strictly direct-to-consumer only: no wholesale, no selling through grocery stores or restaurants. Cannot sell cottage food items alongside non-cottage food products at the same event.
- **Notable fact:** Florida requires absolutely zero permits, zero licenses, zero inspections, and zero fees to sell cottage food — and with a $250,000 annual cap, you could run a quarter-million-dollar baking business from your kitchen with no government paperwork whatsoever.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/florida/

### Georgia

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/georgia
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies), Candy, Carbonated drinks, Condiments, Dried goods, Granola, Jams and jellies, Nut butters, Pickles, Preserves, Snacks
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Fruit butters, Low-acid canned foods, Meat jerkies
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Events, Restaurants, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Online, Wholesale, Home
- **Notes:** HB 398 (effective July 1, 2025) transformed Georgia's cottage food law: eliminated the previous $5,000 revenue cap, removed state licensing requirements, allowed retail/restaurant sales, and made inspections complaint-based only. ANSI-accredited food handler course still required. Optional ID number available instead of home address on labels. Interstate sales status is disputed — some sources say allowed, others say prohibited. Verify with Georgia Department of Agriculture for current interstate rules.
- **Notable fact:** Georgia went from one of the most restrictive cottage food states ($5,000 cap) to one of the most permissive in a single bill — HB 398 in 2025 removed the cap entirely, dropped the license requirement, and opened sales to restaurants and retail stores.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/georgia/

### Hawaii

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/hawaii
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (non-perishable), Candies, Condiments, Dry goods, Preserves (jams, jellies), Snacks, Carbonated beverages, Fermented foods (vegetable/fruit origin only), Juices, Pickled/acidified plant foods (pH ≤ 4.2 or Aw ≤ 0.88), Mochi (non-TCS), Hand-pounded poi
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Meat jerkies, Perishable foods requiring refrigeration, Acidified foods with cut tomatoes (must be refrigerated)
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Restaurants (must disclose as homemade), Online, Mail order, Wholesale
- **Notes:** No permit or inspection required, but must complete DOH-approved or ANSI-accredited food safety training (renewed every 3 years). HB 2144 (2024) expanded the law to allow acidified/fermented foods, indirect sales, online sales, and in-state shipping (rules adopted August 2025). In-state shipping permitted. Commercial kitchen use prohibited. Hand washing sink required during food prep. Department may inspect kitchens regularly. Catering is prohibited.
- **Notable fact:** Hawaii allows wholesale sales to restaurants and retail stores — one of only a handful of states where your home-baked cookies can legally sit on a grocery store shelf without a commercial kitchen.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/hawaii/

### Idaho

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/idaho
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, pastries, cakes, cookies), Candy and chocolate items, Condiments (honey, pickles, salsas, sauces), Dry goods (coffee, herbs, pasta, spices), Fermented foods, Jams, jellies, preserves, Snacks (granola, popcorn, nuts), Juices, Carbonated drinks, Dried fruits, Vinegars, Tinctures (no medicinal claims)
- **Restricted items:** Most meat products (poultry allowed only if producer raises and slaughters ≤1,000/year), Alcoholic beverages, Raw milk (separate regulations apply)
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home sales, Online, Roadside stands, Events, Designated agents (co-ops, consignment retailers)
- **Notes:** True 'Food Freedom' state — no permit, no fees, no inspection, no training, no revenue cap. Direct-to-consumer only (no wholesale or catering). May use 'designated agents' like cooperative markets or consignment retailers. Must maintain sales records for 2 years minimum. Labels must include owner name, phone number, allergen notice, and 'not subject to government food safety inspection' statement. Local business license may still be required depending on city/county.
- **Notable fact:** Idaho is a true 'Food Freedom' state — you can start selling homemade food tomorrow with zero permits, zero fees, zero training, and zero revenue cap. Just make it, label it, and sell it.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/idaho/

### Illinois

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/illinois
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, pastries, donuts), Candy and confections, Condiments (honey, pickles, salsas, sauces, vinegars), Dry goods (cereals, pasta, spices, tea), Preserves and jams, Snacks (granola, popcorn, crackers), Fermented and acidified foods, Canned tomatoes (with annual lab testing)
- **Restricted items:** Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, shellfish, Dairy (limited exceptions in baked goods), Raw or undercooked eggs, Low-acid canned foods, Kombucha, Custard/cream pies (pumpkin, sweet potato, cheesecake), Wild mushrooms, Alcoholic beverages
- **Sales channels:** Home, Farmers markets, Events, Online, Roadside stands, Mail order (non-perishables only)
- **Notes:** All operators and anyone preparing/packaging food must complete Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) training BEFORE registering with their local health department (up to $50/year). Uses a 'prohibited list' model rather than 'allowed list' — anything not explicitly banned is permitted. Acidified/fermented foods require pH lab testing every 3 years. Canned tomato products need annual lab testing. Kitchen must be in primary residence. In-state shipping of non-perishable items only. Restaurants, retail stores, and wholesale distribution are prohibited. Physical home address required on labels.
- **Notable fact:** Illinois uses a rare 'prohibited list' approach — instead of listing what you CAN sell, they list what you CAN'T, meaning nearly everything is fair game including pickles, salsas, and fermented foods that most states ban.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/illinois/

### Indiana

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/indiana
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, donuts, pastries), Candy and chocolate items, Honey, Nut butters, Oils and syrups, Vinegars, Dry goods (cereals, pasta, spices), Fermented foods, Whole eggs, Jams, jellies, Snacks (granola, popcorn, nuts, crackers)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Acidified foods (pickles, salsas, sauces), Low-acid canned foods, Juices, Ketchup, Meat jerkies, Hardboiled whole eggs
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home pickup, Events, Roadside stands, Online, Mail order
- **Notes:** Law passed in 2022 (HB 1149, codified as IC 16-42-5.3). No license or inspection needed, but must complete ANSI-accredited food handler certification (~$8 online). Local governments cannot add restrictions or prohibit homemade food sales. In-state shipping only. Must provide food handler documentation to local health department. Delivery requires sealed packaging or customer address records maintained for one year. HEA 1424 (March 2026, effective July 1, 2026) creates new 'homestead vendor' category (IC 16-42-5.4) allowing meat products for vendors with under $1.5M in sales. Labels must include 'NOT FOR RESALE' statement.
- **Notable fact:** Indiana's 2022 law explicitly bans local governments from adding any extra restrictions on home food sellers — your city council literally cannot stop you from selling homemade cookies.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/indiana/

### Iowa

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/iowa
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cookies, pastries), Candies, Condiments (honey, pickles, salsas), Dry goods (cereals, herbs, spices, tea), Jams, jellies, preserves, Snacks (granola, popcorn, nuts, crackers)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Juices, Meat jerkies
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home sales, Online, Roadside stands, Events, Mail order
- **Notes:** No license, permit, or inspection required. Local governments are prohibited from adding restrictions or banning homemade food sales. Iowa also offers a separate HFPE (Home Food Processing Establishment) path for pickles and fermented items, which does require a license, inspection, and food safety training. Iowa is one of 9 states (as of 2026) that allow TCS foods in home kitchens under the HFPE program. Labels must include preparer contact info, ingredients, allergens, and residential exemption disclaimer. Has allowed homemade food sales since at least the 1980s. Restaurants, retail stores, catering, and wholesale are prohibited under basic cottage food (HFPE required for retail).
- **Notable fact:** Iowa has allowed homemade food sales since the 1980s — decades before most states even considered cottage food laws — and is widely cited as having 'possibly the best cottage food laws in the nation.'
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/iowa/

### Kansas

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/kansas
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, brownies, pastries), Fruit pies, Candy, fudge, caramel corn, toffee, brittles, Honey, Nut butters, Dried goods (herbs, dried fruits, spice mixes, dry baking mixes), Jams, jellies, fruit butters, Snacks (granola, trail mix, roasted nuts, popcorn), Maple syrup, Flavored vinegars, Herb-infused oils (shelf-stable only), Frozen produce
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Acidified foods, Low-acid canned goods, Pickles (requires KDA licensing), Salsas and sauces (requires KDA licensing), Kombucha and fermented foods (requires KDA licensing), Meat jerkies, Dairy products, Cream or custard fillings
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home pickup, Mail order, Events, Roadside stands, Online
- **Notes:** No license, permit, registration, or inspection required for non-TCS foods. Must obtain a retail sales tax certificate. Kansas is one of very few states that allows interstate shipping of cottage food products — you can sell and ship directly to consumers across state lines (though receiving state's laws may also apply). Direct-to-consumer only; cannot sell wholesale, to restaurants, or to grocery stores. Home address required on labels. Some items require lab testing before sale. Limited perishable food exceptions at events (up to 6 times annually).
- **Notable fact:** Kansas is one of the very few states that explicitly allows interstate shipping of cottage food products — you can legally mail your homemade jam to a customer in another state.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/kansas/

### Kentucky

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/kentucky
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** $60,000/year
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pastries), Candy, Jams, jellies, Honey, Dried goods (herbs, spices, tea), Granola, Nuts, Popcorn, Whole eggs, Dried fruit, Pet food (separate registration required)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Pickles, Salsas and sauces, Nut butters, Low-acid canned foods, Fermented foods, Meat jerkies, Acidified foods, Juices
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Roadside stands, Home pickup, Online (direct-to-consumer within KY)
- **Notes:** Must register with Cabinet for Health and Family Services ($50/year). Two categories: Home-Based Processors (no growing required, $50/year, online orders with pickup/delivery) and Home-Based Microprocessors (must grow predominant ingredient, $50 workshop + $5/recipe approval, inspection every 4 years, only 3 sales locations). No food safety training required. No shipping or mail order allowed. Interstate sales prohibited. Home kitchen limited to two non-commercial ranges/ovens and three refrigerators. Candy cannot be touched with bare hands. $60,000 gross annual cap applies.
- **Notable fact:** Kentucky is one of the few states where you can legally sell homemade pet food under cottage food laws — though it requires a separate registration from human food products.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/kentucky/

### Louisiana

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/louisiana
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $30,000/year (bakery products exempt from cap)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, pies), Candy, Condiments (honey, ketchup, mustard, pickles, salsas, sauces, syrups), Dry goods (cereals, mixes, spices), Fermented foods, Jams, jellies, marmalades, Granola, Custard/cream-filled bakery products (with pasteurized milk only)
- **Restricted items:** Low-acid canned foods, Certain fermented foods
- **Sales channels:** Events, Farmers markets, Home sales, Online, Restaurants (non-bakery items only), Retail stores (non-bakery items only), Roadside stands
- **Notes:** No government inspection, permit, or training required, but must obtain a Louisiana General Sales Tax Certificate and a local sales tax certificate. Revenue cap of $30,000/year applies to non-bakery items; breads, cakes, cookies, and pies have NO revenue cap but can only be sold direct-to-consumer (not to retail stores or restaurants). Non-bakery items can be sold to restaurants and retail stores. Bread/cake/cookie/pie preparers face additional restrictions: no employees permitted, pets excluded from prep areas, refrigerators must maintain 45F or below. Interstate sales prohibited. Custard/cream-filled products allowed only with pasteurized milk products.
- **Notable fact:** Louisiana has a unique split system: bakery items (breads, cakes, cookies, pies) have NO revenue cap at all, while everything else is capped at $30,000 — making it secretly one of the best states for home bakers specifically.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/louisiana/

### Maine

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/maine
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, pastries), Candy, Condiments (honey, mustards, nut butters, oils, vinegars), Dry goods (cereals, coffee, dried fruits, herbs, spices, tea), Jams, jellies, preserves, Snacks (granola, popcorn, crackers, nuts), Acidified foods (with prior approval), Chocolate sauces (with prior approval)
- **Restricted items:** Low-acid pressure-canned goods, Perishable baked goods, Foods requiring refrigeration (containing meat or cheese), Any potentially hazardous (TCS) foods
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home, Online, Restaurants, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Events, Wholesale, Mail order
- **Notes:** Requires a Home Food Processor License (~$20/year) from Maine's Division of Quality Assurance & Regulations. Home kitchen inspection required before licensing. Product testing for certain items ($26-$39/product). Well water and septic tank testing if applicable. Mobile Food Vendor license needed for farmers market sales. Maine has THREE pathways: (1) Cottage food with license, (2) Food Sovereignty — 113+ municipalities (30% of towns) allow unlicensed direct home sales under local ordinances, (3) Constitutional Right to Food — Maine is the first state to enshrine the 'right to food' in its constitution (2021). 'Uncontrolled children' cannot be present during production. Interstate sales prohibited. Home address disclosure mandatory.
- **Notable fact:** Maine is the only US state with a constitutional 'Right to Food' amendment (2021), and over 113 municipalities have adopted food sovereignty ordinances that let producers sell directly to neighbors with virtually zero regulation.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/maine/

### Maryland

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/maryland
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** $50,000/year
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, donuts, pastries, scones), Refrigerated baked goods (cheesecake, custard pies, meringue pies, fresh fruit tarts — per SB701, Oct 2025), Hard candies, brittles, Honey (unflavored only), Jams, jellies, fruit butters, marmalades, Dry goods (spices, tea, coffee beans, cereals, mixes), Snacks (popcorn, granola, crackers), Chocolate-covered items (with commercial chocolate)
- **Restricted items:** Pickles, Salsas and sauces, Nut butters, Pasta, Oils, Carbonated drinks, Fermented foods and kombucha, Meat jerky, Macarons, Waffles, Soft candies
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home sales, Mail order (in-state only), Roadside stands, Retail stores, Food co-ops
- **Notes:** No permit or inspection required for most sales. Food safety certificate required only for retail store sales. Optional ID number available (free) to replace home address on labels. Revenue cap doubled from $25,000 to $50,000 in 2022 via HB 178. SB701 (effective October 1, 2025) expanded allowed items to include refrigerated baked goods (cheesecake, custard pies, meringue pies, fresh fruit tarts). HB 535 would raise cap to $100,000 on Oct 1, 2026. Restaurants, catering, and wholesale are prohibited. In-state mail delivery only. Chocolate-covered items must use commercially produced chocolate.
- **Notable fact:** Maryland offers a free optional ID number so cottage food sellers can put that on their labels instead of their home address — a privacy feature almost no other state provides.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/maryland/

### Massachusetts

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/massachusetts
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, donuts, pastries), Candy, chocolates, fudge, Dry goods (cereals, coffee, herbs, spices, tea), Jams, jellies, Snacks (granola, popcorn, nuts, crackers)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Pickles, Sauces, Fermented foods, Any foods requiring refrigeration (containing meat, cheese, etc.)
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home pickup, Online (orders online, pickup/delivery in person)
- **Notes:** Requires a Residential Kitchen Permit from local board of health ($50-$100/year). Home kitchen inspection required before permit issuance and periodically thereafter. Some regions require ServSafe Manager certification (~$125) and allergen training (~$10). Only household members may assist with food preparation. Labels must be reviewed and approved by local board of health before selling. Cannot ship via mail or courier — online orders allowed but must be delivered in person or picked up. Wholesale, brokers, warehouses, retail stores, and restaurants are prohibited sales channels. Reform bills H.114 and H.140 (2025-2026) would create a true statewide cottage food law but have not passed. Interstate sales prohibited. No pets or 'domestic activity' restrictions apply during production.
- **Notable fact:** Massachusetts has no revenue cap but requires your local board of health to personally review and approve every label design before you can sell a single cookie — one of the most bureaucratic cottage food processes in the country despite having no sales limit.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/massachusetts/

### Michigan

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/michigan
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $50,000/year (or $75,000/year if all items priced $250+)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Chocolate, Dried goods (herbs, spices, pasta, tea), Honey, Nut butters, Syrups, Vinegars, Jams, Jellies, Crackers, Granola, Popcorn
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Acidified foods, Low-acid canned foods, Pickles, Fermented foods, Salsas, Sauces, Meat jerkies, Juices, Kombucha, Pet food
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home sales, Roadside stands, Online sales (with direct customer interaction), Mail order, Third-party delivery (e.g. DoorDash), Events
- **Notes:** HB 4122 (signed March 2026) doubled the cap from $25K to $50K and legalized online sales, shipping, and third-party delivery. Online sales require two-way communication (video call or virtual meeting) with the customer before the first purchase. Voluntary registration ($50 one-time) lets sellers use a registration number instead of home address on labels. Starting October 2026, caps adjust for inflation via Detroit CPI.
- **Notable fact:** Michigan sellers can now use DoorDash and other third-party delivery apps to sell homemade cookies and cakes — one of the only states that explicitly allows gig-economy food delivery for cottage food.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/michigan/

### Minnesota

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/minnesota
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $78,000/year (two tiers: Tier 1 up to $7,665, Tier 2 up to $78,000)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Condiments, Dried goods, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Pickles, Sauces, Fermented foods, Juices, Granola, Nut butters, Snacks, Non-perishable pet treats
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Chocolate-covered fruits, Confections with alcohol, Meat jerkies
- **Sales channels:** Home sales, Farmers markets, Community events, Online sales, Personal delivery
- **Notes:** Two-tier system: Tier 1 (up to $7,665) requires free annual online training, no registration fee. Tier 2 ($7,666-$78,000) requires a $50 food safety course every 3 years. Personal delivery only — no third-party couriers. Revenue cap is inflation-adjusted.
- **Notable fact:** Minnesota lets cottage food producers sell fermented foods, pickles, and juices from home — items banned in most states — making it one of the broadest allowed-items lists in the country.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/minnesota/

### Mississippi

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/mississippi
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** $35,000/year
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** not allowed
- **Delivery:** not allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Chocolate, Fudge, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Vinegars, Dried fruit, Pasta, Spices, Granola, Popcorn, Mustards, Fermented foods
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Nut butters, Juices, Meat, Dairy products
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Roadside stands, Home sales, Events
- **Notes:** No permit, registration, or training required. Online advertising is allowed but actual transactions must happen in person with direct hand-off. A 2025 reform bill (SB2265) to raise the cap to $59K and allow online sales failed. Multiple reform efforts in 2024-2026 have been unsuccessful.
- **Notable fact:** Mississippi requires zero paperwork — no permit, no registration, no training — making it the easiest state to start selling, but the ban on online sales means you can advertise your cake on Instagram but can't actually sell it there.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/mississippi/

### Missouri

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/missouri
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Non-perishable baked goods, Canned jams, Canned jellies, Dried herbs, Dried herb mixes
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Candy, Chocolate, Acidified foods, Canned goods (other than standard jams/jellies), Nut butters, Honey, Fermented foods, Dried fruits, Pasta, Meat products
- **Sales channels:** Home sales, Online sales, In-state shipping (USPS, FedEx, UPS)
- **Notes:** No revenue cap (removed by HB 1697 in 2022) and no license, permit, or training required. However, the allowed items list is one of the most restrictive in the nation — only baked goods, jams/jellies, and dried herbs. All sales must originate from home. No farmers market or event sales under this law (a separate 'individual stands' law covers those in certain counties). No-sugar-added or hot-pepper jams excluded due to pH concerns.
- **Notable fact:** Missouri has no revenue cap at all — you could theoretically make a million dollars selling cookies from home — but you can only sell baked goods, jams, and dried herbs, one of the shortest allowed-items lists of any state.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/missouri/

### Montana

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/montana
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** no
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Confections, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Fruit butters, Dried fruits, Dried vegetables, Dried herbs, Teas, Spice mixes, Pickles, Fermented foods, Poultry (under 1,000 birds/year), Raw milk (small dairies, 5 or fewer cows)
- **Restricted items:** Meat (except small-farm poultry), Milk and cream (except small dairies), Pet food
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Home sales, Roadside stands, Delivery, Online sales
- **Notes:** Montana's Local Food Choice Act (SB 199, April 2021) created a 'food freedom' framework with virtually no government regulation. No license, permit, inspection, training, or labeling required. Sellers must verbally inform buyers or display a notice that products are not inspected. One of the least regulated states in the nation for homemade food. Interstate sales and mail order prohibited.
- **Notable fact:** Montana's Food Freedom law is so permissive that small farmers can sell raw milk and home-slaughtered poultry directly to consumers with zero licensing — something that would be a felony in many other states.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/montana/

### Nebraska

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/nebraska
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (including perishable), Candy, Condiments (honey, pickles, salsas, sauces, syrups), Dried goods (cereals, coffee, dried produce, spices), Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Granola, Popcorn, Crackers, Nuts, Whole eggs, Hardboiled eggs, Frozen produce, Pasteurized juices
- **Restricted items:** Low-acid canned foods, Fermented foods, Kombucha, Meat jerkies, Raw meat or dairy products, Unpasteurized juices, Infused oils or honey, Sprouts, Hermetically-sealed acidified foods
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home sales, Online sales, Roadside stands, Delivery, Mail order (non-perishable only)
- **Notes:** Free online registration required. Food safety training mandatory (exemption if selling only non-perishable items at farmers markets). LB262 (2024) dramatically expanded allowed items to include perishable foods like cream-filled pastries and cheesecakes. Perishable items must be delivered within 2 hours. Private well water testing required if applicable. No revenue cap.
- **Notable fact:** Nebraska is one of the only states where you can legally sell cream-filled pastries and cheesecakes from your home kitchen — perishable items that are banned virtually everywhere else under cottage food laws.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/nebraska/

### Nevada

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/nevada
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $100,000/year
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Chocolate, Dried goods (cereals, herbs, spices, tea), Jams, Jellies, Granola, Popcorn, Nuts, Crackers, Syrups
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Meat products, Cheese-based items, Nut butters, Pickles, Fermented foods, Salsas, Sauces, Ketchup, Mustard
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home pickup, Online sales, Mail order, Third-party delivery services
- **Notes:** IMPORTANT: AB 352 (signed June 2025) raises the cap from $35K to $100K and adds online ordering, mail delivery, and third-party delivery — but does NOT take effect until July 2027 while the Nevada Department of Agriculture creates regulations. Until then, the current $35,000 cap applies and online sales are not yet legal. Must register with local health district — fees vary by county (Clark County exceeds $200, some counties are free). Must register in each district where you sell. Nevada also has a separate 'craft food' law for acidified foods like pickles.
- **Notable fact:** Nevada tripled its cottage food revenue cap from $35K to $100K in a single bill in 2025 — one of the largest single increases any state has ever made — and simultaneously legalized selling homemade food on third-party delivery apps.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/nevada/

### New Hampshire

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/new-hampshire
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Condiments, Dried goods, Granola, Nuts, Honey, Maple syrup, Freeze-dried items (licensed only)
- **Restricted items:** Low-acid canned foods, Fermented foods, Meat products, Pet food, Perishable foods
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Farm stands, Home sales, Online sales (licensed only), Wholesale (licensed only), Retail stores (licensed only), Mail order (licensed only), Delivery (licensed only)
- **Notes:** Two-tier system with no revenue cap for either tier. Unlicensed operators can sell at farmers markets, farm stands, and from home only. Licensed Homestead operators ($150/year fee) can also sell online, wholesale, to retail stores, and via mail order. Licensed operations require a kitchen inspection. Some items (non-standard jams, acidified foods) require lab testing before sale. Must operate from primary residence — no commercial kitchens. Interstate sales prohibited.
- **Notable fact:** New Hampshire is one of the few states where cottage food producers can legally sell wholesale to retail stores and restaurants — most states ban this entirely — but only if they get the $150 Homestead License.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/new-hampshire/

### New Jersey

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/new-jersey
- **Grade:** C
- **Revenue cap:** $50,000/year
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Chocolate, Condiments (honey, mustards, nut butters, syrups, vinegars), Dried goods (cereals, coffee, dried fruit, herbs, pasta, spices, tea), Jams, Jellies, Marmalades, Granola, Popcorn, Nuts, Seeds
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Juices, Meat jerkies, Dairy-based desserts, Acidified foods, Canned foods
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home pickup, Delivery, Roadside stands, Online sales
- **Notes:** Requires a Cottage Food Operator Permit ($100, renewed every 2 years) and Food Safety Manager Training (~$200). New Jersey was one of the last states to pass a cottage food law (October 2021, with Rhode Island following in November 2022) after a 12-year legislative battle. Direct sales only — no wholesale, mail order, or shipping. All sales must be within state borders.
- **Notable fact:** New Jersey was one of the very last states in America to legalize cottage food — holding out until October 2021 — and it still requires about $300 in fees and training just to sell a homemade cookie.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/new-jersey/

### New Mexico

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/new-mexico
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Chocolate, Honey, Nut butters, Oils, Syrups, Dried fruits, Dried vegetables, Pasta, Cereals, Jams, Jellies, Granola, Popcorn, Carbonated drinks
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Acidified foods, Pickles, Salsas, Sauces, Ketchup, Mustards, Low-acid canned foods, Candied apples, Baked goods with alcohol
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Farm stands, Home pickup, Mail order, Online sales, Delivery
- **Notes:** The 2021 Homemade Food Act (HB 177) created one of the most producer-friendly laws in the nation: no revenue cap, no permit required, and broad sales channels including online and mail order. Food safety training is mandatory. The law explicitly prevents local governments from banning home food operations. No wholesale or restaurant sales. Must maintain sanitary kitchen conditions and keep children/pets out during production.
- **Notable fact:** New Mexico's Homemade Food Act explicitly bans cities and counties from restricting cottage food operations — meaning no local government in the state can stop you from selling homemade food, a protection almost no other state offers.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/new-mexico/

### New York

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/new-york
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Jams, Jellies, Honey, Dried fruits, Dried vegetables, Herbs, Spices, Candy (no chocolate), Granola, Popcorn, Nuts and seeds, Bagels, Pasta noodles, Crackers, Syrups
- **Restricted items:** Chocolate and chocolate-covered items, Meat, Dairy, Perishable baked goods, Sauces, Pickles, Fermented foods, Nut butters, Low-acid canned foods
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online (in-state only), Retail stores, Restaurants, Mail order (in-state)
- **Notes:** Free registration with NY Dept of Agriculture & Markets (no fee, no expiration). No home inspection required. Chocolate is uniquely banned due to tempering safety concerns. Online/mail order allowed only within New York State.
- **Notable fact:** New York is one of the only states that explicitly bans chocolate and chocolate-covered items from cottage food sales, citing the lack of a thermal kill step during tempering as a food safety risk.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/new-york/

### North Carolina

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/north-carolina
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Honey, Candy, Dried fruits, Dried vegetables, Granola, Popcorn, Cookies, Breads, Condiments
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Dairy, Poultry, Seafood, Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Acidified foods (pickles, salsas), Foods requiring refrigeration
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Retail stores, Restaurants, Online (order-taking, local pickup/delivery), Roadside stands, Wholesale
- **Notes:** Operates as a 'Home Processor' program through NCDA&CS rather than a formal cottage food law. Home kitchen inspection required before approval. Acidified foods course may be required for certain products. Delivery must be handled personally (no third-party delivery).
- **Notable fact:** North Carolina technically has no cottage food 'law' at all. Instead, home food sellers operate under a Home Processor program managed by the state agriculture department through administrative guidelines, making it one of the few states where the rules can change without the legislature voting.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/north-carolina/

### North Dakota

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/north-dakota
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (including perishable), Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Honey, Candy, Dried foods, Frozen produce, Poultry (up to 1,000 birds/year), Condiments, Snacks, Pastries
- **Restricted items:** Meat (except limited poultry), Pet food
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online, Mail order, Roadside stands, Nationwide shipping
- **Notes:** One of the most permissive states in the nation. No license, no inspection, no registration, no fees, no revenue cap. SB 2386 (March 2025) expanded to allow online/phone/mail sales and out-of-state customers. Allows perishable (TCS) foods. Products sold must be consumed 'within a private home.'
- **Notable fact:** North Dakota's food freedom law has a quirky restriction: any homemade food sold can legally only be eaten 'within a private home,' meaning you technically can't buy a cottage food cookie and eat it on the sidewalk.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/north-dakota/

### Ohio

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/ohio
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candy, Granola, Popcorn, Crackers, Honey, Maple syrup, Sorghum syrup, Jams, Jellies, Chutneys, Spices, Tea, Coffee beans
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Dairy, Perishable baked goods, Pickles, Fermented foods, Salsas, Sauces, Dried fruits and vegetables, Low-acid canned foods, Juices
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Restaurants, Retail stores (wholesale), Online, Mail order, Home delivery
- **Notes:** No license, no registration, no fees, no inspection, and no revenue cap. One of the most deregulated cottage food states. Allows wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores. A separate Home Bakery license exists for perishable baked goods. Interstate sales prohibited.
- **Notable fact:** Ohio requires zero government interaction to start selling cottage food: no registration, no fees, no inspection, and no revenue cap. You can literally start selling baked goods to grocery stores tomorrow with nothing but a label.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/ohio/

### Oklahoma

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/oklahoma
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $75,000/year
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Jams, Jellies, Candy, Granola, Sauces, Fermented foods, Dried goods, Preserves, Snacks, Certain perishable items (with food handler training)
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Meat by-products, Unpasteurized milk, Meat jerky, Cannabis/marijuana products, Alcoholic beverages
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Wholesale (non-perishable only), Mail order, Delivery
- **Notes:** Homemade Food Freedom Act. One of only eight states allowing some perishable (TCS) foods under cottage food law, but requires ServSafe food handler training for perishable items. 2024 amendment allows $15/year registration to display ID number instead of home address on labels.
- **Notable fact:** Oklahoma's 2024 amendment lets cottage food sellers pay $15/year to hide their home address from labels, using a registration number instead, after sellers raised safety concerns about strangers knowing where they live.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/oklahoma/

### Oregon

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/oregon
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $50,000/year (inflation-adjusted annually; $52,700 for 2026)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Jams, Jellies, Candy, Chocolate-covered items, Honey, Nut butters, Granola, Popcorn, Dried goods, Pickles, Salsa, Vinegars, Oils, Syrups
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Dairy, Seafood, Meat jerky, Fresh juices, Perishable foods requiring refrigeration
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online, Retail stores, Roadside stands, Mail order, Wholesale, Delivery
- **Notes:** Significantly expanded by SB 643 (2024). Revenue cap is inflation-indexed ($52,700 for 2026). Food safety training required for each person who prepares food. No inspection required. Optional ID number can replace home address on labels.
- **Notable fact:** Oregon's 2024 overhaul (SB 643) introduced an inflation-indexed revenue cap that automatically increases each year, meaning cottage food sellers get an automatic raise without any legislative action.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/oregon/

### Pennsylvania

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/pennsylvania
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Fruit butters, Honey, Maple syrup, Candy, Nut butters, Granola, Dried herbs, Teas, Spices, Meat jerky, Fermented foods, Kombucha
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Foods requiring refrigeration, Cream-filled pastries
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online, Retail stores, Restaurants, Roadside stands, Mail order, Interstate sales
- **Notes:** Operates as Limited Food Establishment (LFE) program through PA Dept of Agriculture. Requires application, plan review, home inspection, and $35 annual fee. Process takes ~60 days. One of few states allowing interstate sales and meat jerky. Lab testing may be required for certain products.
- **Notable fact:** Pennsylvania is one of the rare states that lets cottage food producers sell meat jerky and ship products across state lines, a combination almost no other state allows.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/pennsylvania/

### Rhode Island

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/rhode-island
- **Grade:** D
- **Revenue cap:** $50,000/year
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Breads, Rolls, Bagels, Cookies, Brownies, Cakes (no perishable fillings), Double-crust fruit pies, Muffins, Scones, Unfilled donuts, Crackers, Granola
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Dairy, Candy, Jams, Jellies, Nut butters, Sauces, Honey, Perishable baked goods, Cream-filled pastries, Foods requiring refrigeration
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online (in-state only), Roadside stands, Mail order (in-state)
- **Notes:** Was the last state in America to pass a cottage food law (November 2022, H 7123). Very restrictive: only nonperishable baked goods allowed. Requires food handler certification (~$8), RIDOH registration ($65/year), and no home inspection. No wholesale or restaurant sales.
- **Notable fact:** Rhode Island was the very last state in America to allow any cottage food sales, finally passing its law in November 2022. Even now, it only allows baked goods, banning even jams, candy, and honey that most states permit.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/rhode-island/

### South Carolina

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/south-carolina
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Jams, Jellies, Candy, Chocolate, Honey, Dried fruits, Dried vegetables, Dried herbs, Roasted nuts, Coffee, Tea, Granola, Popcorn
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Dairy, Poultry, Seafood, Pickles, Salsas, Fermented foods, Kombucha, Low-acid canned foods, Juices, Perishable baked goods, Meat jerky
- **Sales channels:** Direct to consumer, Farmers markets, Online (in-state only), Retail stores, Wholesale, Roadside stands, Mail order (in-state), Delivery
- **Notes:** No license, no inspection, no revenue cap. If selling under $1,500/year of non-perishable products, labeling requirements are waived. Allows both direct-to-consumer and wholesale to retail stores. S.506 (2022) removed the former $15,000 cap. Interstate shipping prohibited.
- **Notable fact:** South Carolina has a hidden perk: if you sell less than $1,500 per year, you don't need to label your products at all, making it the easiest state to casually sell a few batches of cookies to neighbors.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/south-carolina/

### South Dakota

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/south-dakota
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Pastries, Candies, Jams and jellies, Dry mixes, Nuts, Grains, Seeds, Condiments, Snacks, Perishable baked goods (with training), Home canned goods (with training), Fermented foods (with training), Frozen produce (with training), Perishable sauces (with training)
- **Restricted items:** Low-acid canned foods (without processing authority approval), Meat, Seafood
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Roadside stands, Home pickup, Online (no shipping)
- **Notes:** No revenue cap. Online sales allowed but shipping prohibited; delivery only by someone residing at producer's address. Food safety training every 5 years unlocks perishable items, canned goods, fermented foods, and frozen produce. Direct-to-consumer only, no wholesale or retail stores.
- **Notable fact:** South Dakota is one of the few states that allows perishable items like cheesecake and pesto under cottage food law -- most states restrict sellers to shelf-stable goods only.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/south-dakota/

### Tennessee

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/tennessee
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Pastries, Candy, Condiments, Jams and jellies, Preserves, Snacks, Fermented foods, Dried goods, Honey, Eggs, Pasteurized dairy (butter, yogurt, hard cheese, kefir)
- **Restricted items:** Meat, Seafood, Shellfish, Unpasteurized milk, Alcoholic beverages
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Roadside stands, Retail stores, Online, Mail order (non-perishables), Wholesale, Home delivery
- **Notes:** One of the most permissive cottage food laws in the US. No revenue cap, no license, no permit, no inspection, no training required. Tennessee Food Freedom Act (T.C.A. Section 53-1-118) amended July 2025 to allow pasteurized dairy and eggs. Perishable items must be sold in person only. Non-perishables can be shipped in-state.
- **Notable fact:** Tennessee requires literally zero government interaction to start selling homemade food -- no license, no permit, no inspection, no training, and no revenue cap, making it arguably the freest cottage food state in America.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/tennessee/

### Texas

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/texas
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** $150,000/year (indexed for inflation)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candies, Chocolate, Condiments, Honey, Pickles, Salsas, Jams and jellies, Nut butters, Dry goods, Fermented foods, Pasta, Spices, Snacks, Granola, Dried fruits, Cream pies, Cheesecakes, Flan, Vegetarian casseroles, Vegetarian pizza, Cut fruit
- **Restricted items:** Meat and poultry, Seafood, Ice cream, Low-acid canned goods, Cannabis products, Raw milk, Pet food
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home sales, Online, Delivery, Wholesale to retail (non-perishables only)
- **Notes:** Major expansion September 2025 (SB541): revenue cap tripled from $50K to $150K with inflation indexing, nearly all foods now allowed. Food handler training required (~2 hours, ~$10). No license or permit needed for basic operations. Registration with health department needed for perishable items or to avoid listing home address. Wholesale to registered cottage food vendors now allowed for first time.
- **Notable fact:** Texas law uniquely requires that any local government official who illegally interferes with a cottage food operation must be fired -- the state literally wrote termination into the statute to protect home bakers from bureaucratic overreach.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/texas/

### Utah

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/utah
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candies, Condiments, Pickles, Salsas, Sauces, Honey, Dry goods, Pasta, Spices, Coffee, Jams and jellies, Canned foods, Snacks, Granola, Popcorn, Nuts, Beverages (juices, kombucha), Eggs, Poultry (up to 1,000 birds/year), Domesticated rabbit
- **Restricted items:** Raw dairy, Most meat products (except small-scale poultry and rabbit)
- **Sales channels:** Home sales, Direct-to-consumer farmers markets, Online (pre-arranged pickup/delivery only), Delivery (pre-arranged), Pickup
- **Notes:** Utah is a Food Freedom state with two paths: (1) Food Freedom path -- no cap, no license, no inspection, nearly all foods allowed, direct-to-consumer only; (2) Traditional Cottage Food path -- requires food handler permit, limited to non-potentially-hazardous foods. Food Freedom path prohibits sales at restaurants, retail stores, events, and roadside stands. Labels must state product is uninspected and not for resale.
- **Notable fact:** Utah's Food Freedom Act allows home producers to sell kombucha, juices, eggs, and even rabbit meat from their kitchen -- items that would require commercial licensing in nearly every other state.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/utah/

### Vermont

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/vermont
- **Grade:** B
- **Revenue cap:** $30,000/year (exemption threshold)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Donuts, Pastries, Scones, Candies, Chocolate, Jams and jellies, Crackers, Pretzels, Granola
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods (quiche, cheesecake), Meat, Dairy, Anything requiring refrigeration
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home sales, Roadside stands, Retail stores, Online, Mail order, Wholesale distributors
- **Notes:** Act 42 (effective July 2025) raised exemption threshold from $10,000 to $30,000 and consolidated cottage food and home bakery categories. Under $30K: free online training and annual registration required (by January 15), no license or inspection. Over $30K: $100 Home Bakery license and kitchen inspection required but no revenue cap. Unusually broad sales channels allowed including retail stores, wholesale, and mail order.
- **Notable fact:** Vermont lets cottage food producers sell to wholesale distributors and retail stores without a commercial license -- a channel most states completely block -- as long as they stay under $30,000 in annual sales.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/vermont/

### Virginia

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/virginia
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap (general); $9,000/year (acidified foods); 250 gallons/year (honey)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Cookies, Cakes, Fruit pies, Donuts, Jams and jellies, Dehydrated items, Candy, Fudge, Chocolate-covered items, Granola, Trail mix, Roasted nuts, Nut butters, Crackers, Popcorn, Honey (pure only), Pickles and acidified vegetables (under $9K cap)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Dairy products, Meat, poultry, seafood, Low-acid canned foods, Fermented items, Dried vegetables, Fruit butters, Juices, Honey-infused products, Custards and cream fillings
- **Sales channels:** Home sales, Farmers markets, Events, Delivery, Online (effective July 1, 2026), Mail order (effective July 1, 2026)
- **Notes:** No general revenue cap, no license, no permit, no training, no inspection. HB402 signed April 2026, effective July 1, 2026: allows online sales, electronic payments, and delivery/shipping via mail or third-party carrier within Virginia. Before July 2026, online ordering was prohibited (phone orders only). Acidified foods (pickles, salsas) capped at $9,000/year (raised from $3,000 in 2024). HB402 may also remove the acidified food cap — verify with Virginia Department of Agriculture for current status.
- **Notable fact:** Until July 2026, Virginia cottage food sellers could advertise online but were banned from having a 'Buy Now' button -- customers had to call by phone to place orders, making it one of the last states with a phone-only ordering requirement.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/virginia/

### Washington

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/washington
- **Grade:** D
- **Revenue cap:** $35,000/year (increases every 4 years for inflation)
- **License required:** yes
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Donuts, Pastries, Candy, Chocolate, Crackers, Granola, Nuts, Jams and jellies, Fruit butters, Vinegars, Dry goods (coffee, tea, herbs, spices)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Acidified foods, Low-acid canned foods, Pickles, Salsas, Sauces, Ketchup, Mustards, Fermented foods, Juices, Meat jerky, Pet food
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Home sales, Roadside stands, Online (pickup/delivery only, no shipping)
- **Notes:** One of the most restrictive cottage food states. Requires: Cottage Food Operation Permit ($355 for 2 years with initial home inspection), food worker card ($10 for 2 years) for every person preparing food, master business license, and annual home inspections. Up to 60 days processing time for applications. Detailed floor plans, processing plans, and water testing (private wells) required. No wholesale, no retail stores, no restaurants. Shipping prohibited except during emergency proclamations.
- **Notable fact:** Washington requires cottage food producers to submit detailed floor plans of their kitchen and undergo home inspections -- more paperwork than some states require for a full commercial food business.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/washington/

### West Virginia

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/west-virginia
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** No cap
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Donuts, Candies, Honey, Mustards, Nut butters, Oils, Syrups, Dry goods, Cereals, Coffee, Dried fruits and vegetables, Pasta, Spices, Tea, Granola, Jams and jellies, Popcorn, Juices, Carbonated drinks, Pet food, Pickled/acidified foods (with permit, per SB 44), Fermented foods (with permit, per SB 44)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Low-acid canned foods, Meat jerky, Grade A dairy products, Meat products
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Online, Mail order, Home pickup, Delivery, Wholesale, Retail stores, Roadside stands
- **Notes:** Extremely permissive law originally passed in 2019, expanded by SB 44 (effective June 12, 2026) which now allows potentially hazardous foods including acidified, pickled, and fermented foods with proper permits, inspection, training, and water testing. No revenue cap. Government only intervenes upon foodborne illness complaints for basic cottage food. One of the few states allowing wholesale and retail store sales. Honey and pet food require special registration permits. All sales must be within West Virginia.
- **Notable fact:** West Virginia is one of only a handful of states where you can sell homemade pet food from your home kitchen -- and you can also sell to retail stores and wholesale, channels that are off-limits in nearly every other state.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/west-virginia/

### Wisconsin

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/wisconsin
- **Grade:** D
- **Revenue cap:** No cap (baked goods); $5,000/year (canned goods)
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** no
- **Online sales:** not allowed
- **Delivery:** not allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies, muffins, scones, bagels, donuts, tortillas, churros, empanadas, crackers), Granola, Jams and jellies, Pickled items (under $5K cap), Honey (self-produced), Maple syrup (self-produced), Fresh produce (own garden)
- **Restricted items:** Perishable baked goods, Cream-filled pastries, Custard pies, Cheesecake, Candies, Chocolate-covered items, Nut butters, Popcorn, Meat, Dairy, Seafood
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Farm stands, Community events, Home sales
- **Notes:** Wisconsin's cottage food rights were originally established through the Kivirist v. DATCP court rulings (2017-2023). However, in November 2024 the Court of Appeals partially reversed the earlier ruling, re-banning candies, chocolates, fudge, confections, dried herbs, and roasted coffee. The Wisconsin Supreme Court denied review in April 2025, making the ban final. Only baked goods remain fully legal with no cap; canned goods (jams, jellies, pickles) are limited to $5,000/year under the separate 'Pickle Bill.' Sales must be direct, in-person, within Wisconsin — no online sales, no mail order. No license, registration, or inspection required. Labeling recommended but not legally required. Pending legislation (2026) proposes expanding allowed items but adding a $40,000 cap.
- **Notable fact:** Wisconsin is the only state where cottage food rights came from a lawsuit — but the victory was partially reversed in 2024-2025 when courts re-banned candies, chocolates, and confections, leaving home bakers in legal limbo.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/wisconsin/

### Wyoming

- **Page:** https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws/wyoming
- **Grade:** A
- **Revenue cap:** $250,000/year
- **License required:** no
- **Labeling required:** yes
- **Online sales:** allowed
- **Delivery:** allowed
- **Allowed items:** Baked goods, Candies, Condiments, Pickles, Salsas, Jams and jellies, Preserves, Dairy products, Eggs, Fermented foods, Kombucha, Juices, Chocolate, Granola, Dried goods, Poultry (up to 1,000 birds/year), Rabbit meat, Farm-raised fish
- **Restricted items:** Most meat products (except small-scale poultry, rabbit, and farm-raised fish)
- **Sales channels:** Farmers markets, Events, Restaurants, Retail stores, Online (no shipping), Home sales, Wholesale (non-perishables only)
- **Notes:** Wyoming's Food Freedom Act (2015) is widely considered the best cottage food law in the country. $250,000 cap with 250,000 unit cap. No license, no inspection, no training required. Allows nearly any food except most meat. Perishable items must be sold direct-to-consumer; non-perishables can be sold wholesale to retail stores and restaurants. Online sales allowed but shipping prohibited. Direct sales require no labeling; indirect/retail sales require allergen and home kitchen disclosure.
- **Notable fact:** Wyoming's $250,000 revenue cap (tied with Florida for highest in the nation) lets you sell homemade dairy, eggs, fermented foods, and even rabbit meat from your kitchen -- making it arguably the broadest food freedom law in the country.
- **Source:** https://forrager.com/law/wyoming/

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## About OrderPost

OrderPost turns a seller's social post or flyer into a reviewed order page with pickup windows, deposits, custom questions, and a shareable link. Built for home bakers, cottage food sellers, pop-up vendors, and meal prep businesses.

- Website: https://www.orderpost.store
- Cottage Food Laws Tool: https://www.orderpost.store/tools/cottage-food-laws
- All Tools: https://www.orderpost.store/tools
- llms.txt: https://www.orderpost.store/llms.txt