Last verified 2026-09-12. Regulator: Georgia Department of Agriculture. This page is not legal advice.
What must a cottage food label show in Georgia?
A Georgia cottage food label must show these 4 items:
- The business name, address, and telephone number of the cottage food operator
- An identification number issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture may replace the address, on written request
- The following statement in at least 10 point font: "This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state inspection. This product may contain allergens."
- The information goes on the package label, on the container label for bulk sales, on a placard at the point of sale, or on the webpage that offers the item for sale
What disclaimer must a Georgia cottage food label have?
Yes. A Georgia cottage food label must carry this statement, word for word:
This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state inspection. This product may contain allergens.
Does Georgia require a Nutrition Facts panel on cottage food?
We have not confirmed this yet. Federal rules exempt most small producers unless the label makes a nutrient or health claim. Check the Georgia sources below. If you want to add one, the Nutrition Label Maker prints it in the FDA layout for free.
What foods can you sell under the Georgia cottage food law?
Non-potentially hazardous foods, which the law lists as loaf breads, rolls, biscuits and cakes (except fillings that need refrigeration or have high moisture), jams, jellies and preserves, uncut fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures, cereals, trail mixes and granola, coated and uncoated nuts, vinegars and flavored vinegars, dill pickles, confections, fudge, dry soup mixes, roasted coffee beans, dry pasta, popcorn, popcorn balls, and cotton candy. Alcoholic beverages, foods with cannabis, and raw milk are excluded.
Where can you sell cottage food in Georgia?
Direct to consumers, including online and by mail order. Sales to retail food sales establishments such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants are also allowed. A city or county may pass an ordinance that blocks third-party vendor sales in its area.
Do you need a permit to sell cottage food in Georgia?
No state license and no state fee since July 1, 2025. The Department of Agriculture may inspect a residence only to investigate a complaint, a foodborne illness report, or a public health emergency. The agency page states that operators must complete an ANSI accredited food safety training program; Food Handler level is acceptable.
Is there a sales limit for cottage food in Georgia?
No cap. The law sets no limit on cottage food sales.
What else should you know about the Georgia rules?
House Bill 398 took effect on July 1, 2025 and removed the state license. The old rules in Chapter 40-7-19 are still on the books and the Department of Agriculture is revising them. The Department says it will use enforcement discretion where an old rule conflicts with the new law. A store that resells your items must display them in a separate section or case and label that section as cottage food that is exempt from state inspection. If you sell by telephone or custom order, you may skip the label, but you must tell the buyer the food was made at a residential property and may contain allergens.
How accurate is this page?
The label items, the disclaimer, the sales channels, and the absence of a license were read from the text of House Bill 398 (O.C.G.A. 26-2-470 et seq.) on 2026-09-12. The allowed foods list and the training requirement were read from the Georgia Department of Agriculture cottage food page the same day. The rules text at rules.sos.ga.gov did not load, so Rule 40-7-19-.08 was not read. For that reason an ingredient list, a net weight, and a nutrition panel are not confirmed as requirements. Check the source before you print labels.