the cottage baker's
field guide.
Free answers for your state and county — sales caps, labels, zoning — plus tools that help you stay ready. 3,143 US counties, 50 states + DC.
what the field guide covers
states + DC
US counties
population covered
apparel designs
start with the answer you need.
Cottage food is the usual name for selling certain homemade foods from a private kitchen under a simpler state rule. It is not a restaurant license and not a rented-kitchen permit. States do not share one name. Virginia calls the food side a “home food processor.” New York says “home processor.” Massachusetts says “residential kitchen.” New Hampshire says “homestead food.” Indiana says “home-based vendor.” California registers a “cottage food operation” at the county.
State and county cottage food guides
Open your state for the statute, sales cap, allowed products, and registration path, then the county page for zoning and local health links.
Can I sell this from a home kitchen?
Check a product against 51 US jurisdictions. Verdicts are yes, conditional, or no, with statute citations — not a license.
Labeling disclaimer wording by state
State label templates collect the “made in a home kitchen” disclaimer language agencies publish. Verify the current .gov text before you print.
vintage varsity.
Levain Society
Lamination Nation
Beurre Plastique
Open Crumb Club
Le Tourier
Proof of Concept
Hydration 100%
Mise en Place
Crumb Queen
Night Baker
Dough Whisperer
Wild Yeast
Je Ne Sais Pain
Cottage Baker
Sourdough
Butter
Cookie Baker
Croissant
Crumb Life
CROSODO
cottage food laws by state
Every state has different rules — what you can sell, where, and how. Pick your state to see the law summary, sales caps, allowed products, registration requirements, and authoritative sources.
How to read a state page
Each state page cites the statute, the sales cap, allowed product categories, registration, and the department of agriculture or health that publishes the rule. Use it as a map to the official source, not as counsel.
What the five tiers mean
Freedom through Poor rank how broad the product list is, how high any sales cap sits, and which channels (direct, online, retail) the exemption allows. The grade is Crosodo's reading of the statute, not a government rating.
top 30 us counties
Cottage food registration usually happens at the county level. The 30 most populous counties below cover 30% of the US population. We track all 3,143 US counties — see your state for the full list.
County permits, zoning, and health links
A county page is for local pointers — home-occupation or zoning notes, health-department URLs, and whether anyone locally discusses the cottage-food path. Permit Guide 101 on /permits is paid research, not a filing gateway.
Recent questions from cottage bakers
Markets, zoning, labels, and how people actually got legal — seed threads you can join today.
What's the actual farmers market process here?
Booth fees, applications, sampling rules, and what managers really check for cottage food labels.
Anyone know a good local label printer?
Thermal vs. inkjet, waterproof stock, and shops that already know cottage food disclaimers.
Zoning experience in your county?
Home occupation permits, HOA pushback, customer pickup rules, and what planning actually said.
What's actually selling at markets this season?
Price points, product mix, and seasonal hits from bakers who are already legal.
How I got legal in my county
Share your registration path, timeline, and the unexpected snag — help the next baker.
Ask the directory
Stuck on a state or county rule? Post a question — the Crosodo team and local bakers reply.
Cottage food law, explained.
What is a cottage food law?
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Do I need a license to sell baked goods from home?
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What's the difference between high-tier and low-tier cottage food states?
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Can I sell at farmers markets under cottage food law?
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How do I register my cottage food business?
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What labeling is required for cottage food products?
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for home bakers
Not a law firm — not legal advice
We're not a law firm. But we think home bakers deserve better resources. So we collected the notes that we wanted to help us launch our home microbakery.