Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only to assist the baking community. It does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice. Laws and regulations in the United States may change without notice. Always verify current requirements with your local government authority before starting a food business. BakeOnyx is not responsible for any actions taken based on this information.

Resources / Cottage Food Laws

Cottage Food Laws by State in the USA

The complete 2026 guide to cottage food and small-scale bakery regulations in the United States. Find your state's sales limits, licensing requirements, allowed products, and labeling rules.

Permissive (19)Moderate (28)Restrictive (3)
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY
Permissive
Moderate
Restrictive
No data

All 50 States

Alabama

moderate

Sales limit: No annual sales cap (the prior cap was removed by SB 160, 2021)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Alaska

permissive

Sales limit: No state sales limit (Alaska homemade food exemption, 18 AAC 31.012)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Arizona

permissive

Sales limit: No annual sales cap

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Arkansas

permissive

Sales limit: No limit (Act 1040 of 2021, Food Freedom Act)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

California

permissive

Sales limit: $75,000 / $150,000 (tiered — Class A / Class B)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Allowed

Colorado

permissive

Sales limit: Up to $10,000 net per product type — rising to $150,000 plus TCS foods on August 12, 2026 (HB26-1033, the Tamale Act)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Connecticut

moderate

Sales limit: $50,000 per year

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

Delaware

moderate

Sales limit: No statewide sales cap (the $25,000 cap was removed in December 2023)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

Florida

permissive

Sales limit: $250,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Georgia

permissive

Sales limit: No statutory annual cap (HB 398, effective July 1, 2025)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Hawaii

moderate

Sales limit: No dollar sales cap (Homemade Food rules, HAR 11-50, effective August 24, 2025)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Idaho

permissive

Sales limit: No annual sales cap

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Illinois

moderate

Sales limit: No sales cap (Home-to-Market Act, SB 2007, effective January 1, 2022)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Indiana

moderate

Sales limit: $50,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Iowa

permissive

Sales limit: No sales limit for unlicensed cottage food. Home Food Processing Establishment (HFPE) license required above $50,000.

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Kansas

moderate

Sales limit: No annual sales cap

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Kentucky

moderate

Sales limit: $60,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Louisiana

moderate

Sales limit: $50,000 per year for low-risk foods (HB 403, effective August 1, 2026); bakery items have no dollar cap

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Maine

moderate

Sales limit: No state cap on Home Food License sales. Food Sovereignty ordinances may further exempt direct producer-to-consumer sales in participating municipalities.

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

Maryland

moderate

Sales limit: $50,000 per year (rises to $100,000 on October 1, 2026 — HB 535)

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Massachusetts

restrictive

Sales limit: No dollar sales cap (105 CMR 590 residential kitchen)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Allowed

Michigan

moderate

Sales limit: $50,000 per year — or $75,000 if unit price is $250 or more (HB 4122, effective March 24, 2026)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Minnesota

moderate

Sales limit: $78,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Mississippi

moderate

Sales limit: $35,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Missouri

permissive

Sales limit: No sales cap (the cap was removed by HB 1697, effective 2022)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Montana

moderate

Sales limit: No sales cap (Montana Local Food Choice Act, SB 199, 2021)

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Nebraska

moderate

Sales limit: No annual sales cap (the cap was removed by LB 262, 2024)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Allowed

Nevada

moderate

Sales limit: $35,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

New Hampshire

permissive

Sales limit: No sales cap (the cap was removed by HB 119, effective July 1, 2023)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Allowed

New Jersey

restrictive

Sales limit: $50,000 per year (gross)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

New Mexico

permissive

Sales limit: No statutory annual cap (Homemade Food Act, effective July 1, 2021)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

New York

moderate

Sales limit: No statewide cap (varies by county)

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

North Carolina

restrictive

Sales limit: No statutory annual cap

License required: Yes

Online sales: Allowed

North Dakota

permissive

Sales limit: No statutory sales cap (Food Freedom law, N.D. Cent. Code ch. 23-09.5)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Ohio

moderate

Sales limit: No sales cap

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Oklahoma

permissive

Sales limit: $75,000 per year — rising to $250,000 on November 1, 2026 (HB 3720, Local Food Freedom Act)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Oregon

moderate

Sales limit: $52,700 per year (2026 CPI-indexed figure; base $50,000)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Pennsylvania

moderate

Sales limit: No statutory annual cap (Limited Food Establishment program)

License required: Yes

Online sales: Allowed

Rhode Island

moderate

Sales limit: $50,000 per year

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

South Carolina

permissive

Sales limit: No statutory annual cap

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

South Dakota

permissive

Sales limit: No annual sales cap

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Tennessee

moderate

Sales limit: No annual sales cap (Tennessee Food Freedom Act)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Texas

permissive

Sales limit: $150,000 per year (SB 541, effective September 1, 2025)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Utah

moderate

Sales limit: No statutory annual cap

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

Vermont

moderate

Sales limit: $30,000 per year (Act 42, 2025)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Virginia

moderate

Sales limit: $25,000 per year

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Washington

moderate

Sales limit: $35,000 per year

License required: Yes

Online sales: Restricted

West Virginia

permissive

Sales limit: No annual sales cap for non-hazardous cottage foods (SB 44)

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Wisconsin

moderate

Sales limit: No cap on home-baked goods (Lafayette County injunction, Kivirist v. DATCP); a $5,000/year limit applies only to home-canned "Pickle Bill" goods

License required: No

Online sales: Restricted

Wyoming

permissive

Sales limit: No annual sales cap

License required: No

Online sales: Allowed

Cottage food laws change frequently. See an error or outdated information? Let us know.

State data last verified: April 2026 – August 2026

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