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Home food sellers

Everything you need to know about a cottage food license

Some states need a license. Some need a registration. Many need nothing. This page lists what each verified state requires, what it costs, and the sales limit.

Updated 2026-09-12. This page is not legal advice.

Is there such a thing as a cottage food license?

Not as one national license. Each state sets its own rule. Most states call it a cottage food law. It lets you make low-risk food at home and sell it without a commercial kitchen. What the state asks for ranges from nothing to a permit with a fee, a course, and a kitchen inspection.

Which states require a license, permit, or registration?

The table shows every state we have verified against the statute or the state agency page. Each row links to the full state page.

StateLicense, permit, or registrationSales limitDisclaimer on label
CaliforniaClass A registration or Class B permit from the county environmental health department, plus a food processor course within three months…$75,000 in verifiable gross annual sales for a Class A operation. $150,000 for a Class B operation. Health and Safety Code section 113758.Yes, exact wording
FloridaNo license, permit, or inspection required. The operation must keep records that show its gross sales on request.$250,000 in gross annual sales of cottage food products, counting all locations.Yes, exact wording
GeorgiaNo state license and no state fee since July 1, 2025. The Department of Agriculture may inspect a residence only to investigate a…No cap. The law sets no limit on cottage food sales.Yes, exact wording
IllinoisRegister each year with the local health department for the area where the operation is located. The department issues a certificate of…No cap. Section 4 sets no limit on sales.Yes, exact wording
IndianaNo license, permit, registration, or routine inspection. The vendor must hold a food handler certificate from a certificate issuer…None. IC 16-42-5.3 sets no limit on sales.Yes, exact wording
MichiganNo license, permit, or inspection is required. Registration with the MSU Product Center is optional. The center may charge a one-time…$50,000.00 in gross annual sales until October 1, 2026. The cap is $75,000.00 a year if the operation sells its products at $250.00 or more per unit. MDARD may adjust both amounts for inflation each October 1 after that. Gross sales are counted per person at a particular domestic residence.Yes, exact wording
MissouriNo permit, license, registration, or routine inspection. A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment. A…None. The $50,000 annual gross income cap was removed on August 28, 2022.No fixed wording
New JerseyA Cottage Food Operator Permit is required. The application fee is $100.00 and the permit lasts two years. Renewal costs $100.00; apply…$50,000 in gross annual sales, counted before any deduction for taxes and operating expenses.Yes, exact wording
North CarolinaAn inspection is required. Send the Application for Home Processor Inspection to NCDA&CS with a business plan, a water bill or a well…No dollar cap appears in the NCDA&CS home processing program materials. Not confirmed against a statute.No fixed wording
OhioChapter 901:3-20 sets no registration, licence, inspection, or training requirement. Its five rules cover definitions, labeling,…No sales cap appears in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 901:3-20 or in Ohio Revised Code section 3715.023.Yes, exact wording
TexasNo permit for most operations. Registration with DSHS is required for operations that sell time and temperature controlled foods, and is…Check the current figure in Chapter 437. The DSHS page does not state one.Yes, exact wording
VirginiaNo permit, no inspection, and no inspection fee. A private home that meets the exception in subsection C is exempt. VDACS may still…No cap on the candy, dry goods, and baked goods list. Pickles and other acidified vegetables are capped at $9,000 in gross sales in a calendar year. Honey is capped at less than 250 gallons a year.Yes, exact wording
WisconsinNo license, no permit, and no inspection for either exemption. DATCP does not register home bakers. Every other home food business needs…Pickle bill sales must stay under $5,000 per year. The home baked goods court orders set no dollar cap.Yes, exact wording

What does a cottage food license cost?

Between nothing and about $100. Texas, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, and Wisconsin charge no state fee for shelf-stable food. Illinois charges up to $50 a year through the local health department. New Jersey charges $100 for a two-year permit. California charges a county fee that varies by county.

What do I have to do to get one?

Where a permit exists, the steps are the same in most states. Fill out a form with your business name and address. List the foods you will make. Show a food handler card or a food protection manager certificate. Pay the fee. Some states, such as New Jersey and North Carolina, inspect or ask about your water supply. Your state page lists the exact steps.

What can I sell with it?

Food that does not need refrigeration to stay safe. Breads, cookies, cakes without cream fillings, candy, jams and jellies, granola, dry mixes, and roasted nuts appear on almost every state list. Cheesecake, cream pies, and anything with meat are off most lists. Texas and Illinois now allow some refrigerated foods with extra rules.

Is there a limit on how much I can sell?

In some states. California caps Class A at $75,000 and Class B at $150,000. Florida caps at $250,000. Michigan and New Jersey cap at $50,000. Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Virginia set no cap for shelf-stable food. Past the cap you need a licensed commercial kitchen.

Do I still need a business license or a sales tax permit?

Often yes, and these come from your city or your state revenue department, not from the cottage food law. A cottage food registration says the food is legal to make at home. A business license says you may run a business at that address. A sales tax permit lets you collect tax where baked goods are taxable. Ask your city clerk and your state revenue department.

What goes on the label once I have the license?

Every state with a cottage food law lists the label items. Most want the product name, your name and address or registration number, the ingredients in order by weight, the allergen line, and a set sentence that says the food was made in a home kitchen. The Ingredient Label Maker writes the ingredient list, the allergen line, and the state sentence for you. See whether you need a Nutrition Facts panel, which most cottage food sellers do not.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to sell food from home?

It depends on your state. Some states need no license at all for shelf-stable food. Others need a registration or a permit with a fee. The table on this page lists every state we have verified.

How much does a cottage food license cost?

From nothing to about $100. Illinois local registration is up to $50 a year. The New Jersey permit is $100 for two years. Many states charge nothing.

Do I need a food handler card?

Some states require a food handler card or a food protection manager certificate. Texas requires a food handler card. Illinois and New Jersey require a certified food protection manager. Check your state page.

Can a cottage food license let me sell to stores?

Usually no. Most states limit cottage food to direct sales to the consumer. Georgia and Texas allow some wholesale. Check your state page.

What if my state is not in the table?

We add states in order of demand and verify each one against the statute. The email box at the bottom sends one message when a state is added.