Cottage-food laws and labeling requirements by state
Updated July 2026 · State laws vary — federal rules apply once you cross state lines
Every state runs its own cottage-food law — the rules that let home kitchens sell certain low-risk foods (jams, baked goods, dry mixes, some candies) without a commercial kitchen license. What almost none of them do is exempt you from labeling entirely: nearly every state cottage-food law requires, at minimum, a "made in a home kitchen not subject to state inspection" disclosure, the producer's name and address, and an ingredient list, even when the state doesn't require the full federal Nutrition Facts panel.
Where states differ most is sales channel and revenue caps: some allow online sales and shipping, others require in-person, in-state sales only; annual revenue limits range from no cap at all up to roughly $50,000–$75,000 in the stricter states. Cross a state line, sell through a national online marketplace, or exceed your state's cap, and you're generally out of cottage-food territory and into standard federal food-labeling rules — the same Nutrition Facts panel, allergen declaration, and ingredient statement any other packaged-food seller needs.
A full state-by-state breakdown — allowed products, revenue caps, required disclosures, and the exact point each state's rules hand off to federal labeling — is coming soon to this guide.
This guide explains FDA’s labeling rules in plain language. It isn’t legal advice — when in doubt, check with your state department of agriculture or a food-labeling attorney.