Cottage food rules

Cottage food laws by state, province, and country

The label is only one part of selling food from home. Start with the place where you make and sell it, check the product and sales route, then build the label from the rule that actually applies.

Last updated September 16, 2026

New England

Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

Great Lakes

Plains

South Central

West

Atlantic Canada

Central Canada

Western and Northern Canada

Mexico

Use the law guide as a starting point

Food rules change by product, kitchen, sales channel and local authority. These pages organize the current researched record and link to the agency source. They do not replace a permit desk, inspector or regulator.

When the label is the job in front of you, use the paired label maker. It starts with the label fields for the jurisdiction you chose and keeps the final check in your hands.

Need the label right now?

Pick your jurisdiction in the label maker, paste the recipe, and check the finished output against the official source.

Sources

Details were checked against public sources on September 16, 2026. Confirm current prices, policies, or provider instructions before relying on them.

Frequently asked questions

Are these pages legal advice?

No. They are practical research summaries with links to official sources and checked dates. Product, local, market and business rules can add another layer. Confirm your exact case with the responsible authority before selling.

Why are there separate law and label pages?

The law guide answers what you can make, where you can sell it and what paperwork comes first. The label page answers what to print and gives you the workbench to make it.

Why does Canada use different wording?

Canadian provinces and territories generally use home-based food or local food language rather than the US term cottage food. The page wording follows the local rule while the label maker still shares the same workflow.