Louisiana Cottage Food Law
Tier: Okay. Sales caps under $25,000 and/or limited sales channels. Operable for a side business but you'll likely outgrow the rules at scale.
30000
Low-risk foods allowed include: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices. None may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein. Custard/cream-filled bakery products are allowed only if made with pasteurized dairy products and following specified temperature requirements.
Registration: No. Food handler cert: No.
Louisiana Revised Statutes §40:4.9 — Low-Risk Foods; Preparation in Home for Public Consumption (operative provision; §40:4.13 citation in input may reference a related or renamed section)
Verbatim excerpt§4.9. Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption A.(1)(a) No provision of the state Sanitary Code or any provision of any other law or regulation that requires any equipment, design, construction, utensils, supplies, preparation, or services shall apply to the preparation of low-risk foods, as defined in Subsection E of this Section, in the home for sale. [...] This Section shall not be construed to allow the sale or distribution of any unwholesome food. B. This Section shall not apply to any preparer of low-risk foods made at a home for sale, whose gross annual sales equal thirty thousand dollars or more. C. No individual who prepares breads, cakes, cookies, or pies in the home for sale to the public pursuant to this Section shall sell such foods to any retail business or individual for resale. D.(1)(a) [...] any individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home for sale, as authorized by this Section, shall affix to any such food offered for sale a label which clearly indicates that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. (2) No individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home shall sell such foods unless he is registered to collect any local sales and use taxes [...] E. For purposes of this Section, "low-risk foods" shall include all of the following, none of which shall consist of any animal muscle protein or fish protein: (1) Baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies. (2) Candies. (3) Cane syrup. (4) Dried mixes. (5) Honey and honeycomb products. (6) Jams, jellies, and preserves. (7) Pickles and acidified foods. (8) Sauces and syrups. (9) Spices. F. No preparer of low-risk foods pursuant to this Section shall sell any food containing cannabidiol unless the United States Food and Drug Administration approves cannabidiol as a food additive.
Source: legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=98431 →
Louisiana Cottage Food Law — Full PDF report
A comprehensive report covering the Louisiana statute, every county we've researched, and authoritative source URLs.
Download PDFLouisiana Cottage Food Law — Official Guidance Summary
Official agency guidance changes without notice. The text below is reproduced for reference only — always confirm current rules on the agency website before relying on it.
- Louisiana Department of Healthhttps://ldh.la.gov/page/cottage-food-laws
Louisiana's cottage food rules are set by La. R.S. §40:4.13. The summary below is drawn from Crosodo's verified statute research and official agency guidance. Always confirm current requirements on the state agency website before you sell.
Program basics
- Louisiana Revised Statutes §40:4.9 — Low-Risk Foods; Preparation in Home for Public Consumption (operative provision; §40:4.13 citation in input may reference a related or renamed section)
- 30000
- No
- No
- No
Allowed products and sales channels
- Low-risk foods allowed include: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices. None may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein.
- Custard/cream-filled bakery products are allowed only if made with pasteurized dairy products and following specified temperature requirements.
- Foods containing animal muscle protein or fish protein are excluded from the definition of low-risk foods. Low-acid canned foods are prohibited, as are fermented foods (listed as prohibited on Forrager). Products containing cannabidiol (CBD) may not be sold unless FDA approves CBD as a food additive.
- Most low-risk foods may be sold indirectly (to restaurants, retail stores), but breads, cakes, cookies, and pies specifically may NOT be sold to any retail business or individual for resale — they are direct-to-consumer only.
Labeling
- Labels must clearly indicate that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. Producers must also obtain and display a local sales tax certificate from the parish where they sell before selling any products.
Statute excerpt
- §4.9. Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption A.(1)(a) No provision of the state Sanitary Code or any provision of any other law or regulation that requires any equipment, design, construction, utensils, supplies, preparation, or services shall apply to the preparation of low-risk foods, as defined in Subsection E of this Section, in the home for sale. [...] This Section shall not be construed to allow the sale or distribution of any unwholesome food. B.
- This Section shall not apply to any preparer of low-risk foods made at a home for sale, whose gross annual sales equal thirty thousand dollars or more. C. No individual who prepares breads, cakes, cookies, or pies in the home for sale to the public pursuant to this Section shall sell such foods to any retail business or individual for resale.
- D.(1)(a) [...] any individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home for sale, as authorized by this Section, shall affix to any such food offered for sale a label which clearly indicates that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. (2) No individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home shall sell such foods unless he is registered to collect any local sales and use taxes [...] E.
- For purposes of this Section, "low-risk foods" shall include all of the following, none of which shall consist of any animal muscle protein or fish protein: (1) Baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies. (2) Candies. (3) Cane syrup. (4) Dried mixes. (5) Honey and honeycomb products. (6) Jams, jellies, and preserves. (7) Pickles and acidified foods. (8) Sauces and syrups. (9) Spices. F.
- No preparer of low-risk foods pursuant to this Section shall sell any food containing cannabidiol unless the United States Food and Drug Administration approves cannabidiol as a food additive.
Official sources
- State agency cottage food page: https://ldh.la.gov/page/cottage-food-laws
- Statute: https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=98863
Summarized from official Louisiana cottage food statute research and agency guidance. Agency rules change — verify on the official site before relying on this information.
Louisiana Counties
64 counties tracked. Pick yours for the local zoning + health department links.
View all 64 counties →City zoning rules in Louisiana
City zoning rules apply on top of the state cottage food law — home occupation, customer pickup, signage, and employees.
The Cottage Baker's Field Guide (PDF)
A 6-page reference covering all 51 jurisdictions with methodology and tier explainers — same data as this directory, ready to print and tape to your wall.
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Louisiana cottage food law — FAQ
Do I need a license or permit to sell homemade food in Louisiana?
Yes — No. Food handler certification: No.
What foods can I sell under the Louisiana cottage food law?
Low-risk foods allowed include: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices. None may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein. Custard/cream-filled bakery products are allowed only if made with pasteurized dairy products and following specified temperature requirements.
Is there a sales cap for cottage food in Louisiana?
30000
How good is Louisiana's cottage food law?
Louisiana is a Okay-tier cottage food state by Crosodo's rating criteria. Sales caps under $25,000 and/or limited sales channels. Operable for a side business but you'll likely outgrow the rules at scale.
Cottage food laws are amended every year. This is a starting reference, not legal advice. Verify with Louisiana Department of Health and your local health department before relying on this data.