Texas cottage food law
Texas Cottage Food Law — 728 pages and 254 counties
Full Texas PDF (728 pages). This page stays free.
Last updated: · Research verified · Full guide in Cottage Pro ($15 one time) (728 pages)
Full Texas PDF (728 pages). This page stays free.
Print Texas labels for your first market
Print Texas labels for your first market
After the law page, this is the next thing most bakers need: a print-ready mockup with the Texas home-kitchen disclaimer, allergen line, and net-weight fields.
THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL LICENSING OR INSPECTION.
The Crosodo 50-State Cottage Food Label Packet (287 pages) is included in Cottage Pro — 287 pages of per-state rules, official examples, and county extras. Open the combined packet. The Texas mockup above stays free.
- Product name, producer, and address (or allowed alternative)
- Ingredients by weight and major allergens
- Net weight / quantity
- Texas home-kitchen / “not inspected” disclaimer
Not legal advice. Verify wording with the state agency before a production print run.
What does the official Texas state handout say?
Texas 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.
- Texas Department of State Health Serviceshttps://www.dshs.texas.gov/food-establishments/cottage-food-production-operations
Texas's cottage food rules are set by Tex. Health & Safety §437.001 et seq.. 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
- Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 437 – Regulation of Certain Foods, Subchapter A – Cottage Food Production Operations
- 150000
- No
- No
- No
Allowed products and sales channels
- Almost all non-TCS (non-temperature-controlled) foods are allowed, including baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, pickles, dried herbs and spices, roasted coffee, granola, vinegar, acidified foods, fermented vegetable products, dried meats, and any food that is not a time-and-temperature control for safety food.
- Nonprofits may also operate under the cottage food framework as of SB 541 (2025).
- Prohibited foods include meat and meat products, poultry or poultry products, seafood and fish products, ice or ice products (shaved ice, ice cream, frozen custard, popsicles, gelato), low-acid canned goods, products containing CBD or THC, and raw milk and raw milk products.
- Sales must be made directly to consumers or to a 'cottage food vendor' (a new category created by SB 541 in 2025 – a person with a contractual relationship who sells on behalf of the cottage food operation to consumers in-state). Cottage food products may not be sold as ingredients to a food service establishment.
- No retail grocery store or wholesale sales permitted under the pre-2025 framework; SB 541 (2025) adds the cottage food vendor intermediary option. Products must be delivered to consumer or vendor at point of sale or consumer-designated location.
Labeling
- Labels must include: the words 'MADE IN A HOME KITCHEN'; name of the product; list of ingredients and sub-ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight; net weight or volume; name, address, and phone number of the cottage food production operation; and any allergen information required by federal law.
- Labels may not make any claim about health benefits or contain any false or misleading information.
Statute excerpt
- (2-b) "Cottage food production operation" means an individual, operating out of the individual's home, or a nonprofit organization that: (A) produces at the individual's home or the home of an individual who is a director or officer of the nonprofit organization, as applicable, any food other than: (i) meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products; (ii) seafood, including seafood products, fish, fish products, shellfish, and shellfish products; (iii) ice or ice products, including shaved ice, ice cream, frozen custard, popsicles, and gelato; (iv) low-acid canned goods; (v) products containing cannabidiol or tetrahydrocannabinol; or (vi) raw milk and raw milk products; (B) has an annual gross income of $150,000 or less from the sale of food described by Paragraph (A), as the department annually adjusts for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U); (C) sells the foods produced under Paragraph (A) directly to consumers or to a cottage food vendor; and (D) delivers products to the consumer or cottage food vendor at the point of sale or another location designated by the consumer or cottage food vendor.
Official sources
- State agency cottage food page: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/food-establishments/cottage-food-production-operations
- Statute: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.437.htm
Summarized from official Texas cottage food statute research and agency guidance. Agency rules change — verify on the official site before relying on this information.
Cottage Pro — $15 one time
This page is the free Texas statute. Cottage Pro is the apply checklist and workspace.
Pick your Texas county
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.
Download the PDFFree email alerts
Texas Cottage Food Updates
New bills, rule changes and local news for home bakers in Texas. Every story links to its source.
What does the Great tier mean for Texas?
Tier: Great. No or very high sales cap, broad product list, multiple sales channels including retail and online. Most home bakers can run a meaningful operation here.
Texas cottage food law — quick summary
How do I start a cottage food business in Texas?
How to start in Texas
A practical path from “am I allowed?” to first sale. Not legal advice — confirm every step with Texas agencies and your local offices.
Confirm your products are allowed
Texas allows Almost all non-TCS (non-temperature-controlled) foods are allowed, including baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, pickles, dried herbs and spices, roasted coffee, granola, vinegar, acidified foods, fermented vegetable products, dried meats, and any food that is not a time-and-temperature control for safety food. Nonprofits may also operate under the cottage food framework as of SB 541 (2025).. High-risk or refrigerated foods usually need a commercial kitchen — not a cottage exemption.
Choose sales channels you can actually use
Sales cap: $150,000. Indirect / wholesale-style sales: Limited (see notes). Farmers markets and direct-to-consumer pickup are the usual start. Check county and city rules before advertising porch pickup.
Clear local zoning, licenses, and tax IDs
State cottage food rules are the floor. Your city or county may still require a business license, home occupation approval, HOA permission, or sales tax registration. Do this before you print an address on Instagram.
Registration, training, and kitchen rules
State registration: No. Food handler / training: No. Kitchen inspection: No. Complete certificates the market or agency will ask for.
Build compliant labels
Use the Texas label requirements on this site (and the free template). Match disclaimer language to the statute or agency guide before you print a batch.
Soft-launch, then first paid sales
Keep a simple sales log from day one so you stay under any annual cap. Soft-launch with pre-orders before a full market day.
Verify with official sources
Re-check the state cottage food page and your local health / planning office before you invest in equipment or marketing. Rules change.
What usually goes on the package
- Product name (common or usual name of the food)
- Business or producer name
- Producer address (or address alternative your state allows)
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- Major allergen disclosures (e.g. wheat, milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
- Net weight or quantity
- Home-kitchen disclaimer: “THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL LICENSING OR INSPECTION.”
This is a planning checklist compiled for home bakers. It is not legal, tax, or zoning advice.
What are the Texas sales cap, allowed products and registration rules?
150000
Almost all non-TCS (non-temperature-controlled) foods are allowed, including baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, pickles, dried herbs and spices, roasted coffee, granola, vinegar, acidified foods, fermented vegetable products, dried meats, and any food that is not a time-and-temperature control for safety food. Nonprofits may also operate under the cottage food framework as of SB 541 (2025).
Registration: No. Food handler cert: No.
What does the Texas cottage food statute say?
Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 437 – Regulation of Certain Foods, Subchapter A – Cottage Food Production Operations
Verbatim excerpt(2-b) "Cottage food production operation" means an individual, operating out of the individual's home, or a nonprofit organization that: (A) produces at the individual's home or the home of an individual who is a director or officer of the nonprofit organization, as applicable, any food other than: (i) meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products; (ii) seafood, including seafood products, fish, fish products, shellfish, and shellfish products; (iii) ice or ice products, including shaved ice, ice cream, frozen custard, popsicles, and gelato; (iv) low-acid canned goods; (v) products containing cannabidiol or tetrahydrocannabinol; or (vi) raw milk and raw milk products; (B) has an annual gross income of $150,000 or less from the sale of food described by Paragraph (A), as the department annually adjusts for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U); (C) sells the foods produced under Paragraph (A) directly to consumers or to a cottage food vendor; and (D) delivers products to the consumer or cottage food vendor at the point of sale or another location designated by the consumer or cottage food vendor.
Source: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00541F.htm →
How does Texas compare with neighboring states?
Texas vs neighboring cottage food laws
Tier and sales-cap snapshot for Texas and nearby states. Click through for full rules, labeling, and county pages.
| State | Tier | Sales cap | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| TexasYou are here | Great | 150000 | This page |
| Arkansas | Freedom | None | Arkansas law → |
| Louisiana | Okay | 100000 | Louisiana law → |
| New Mexico | Great | None | New Mexico law → |
| Oklahoma | Freedom | 75000 | Oklahoma law → |
Need a compliant product label for Texas? Open the Texas label mockup (free), or the Cottage Pro — 287-page label packet included.
Notes on Texas cottage food rules
Where can I verify Texas's rules?
Where to verify Texas's rules
Texas special guides
Which Texas counties are covered?
Texas Counties
254 counties tracked. Pick yours for the local zoning + health department links.
View all 254 counties →What are the city zoning rules in Texas?
City zoning rules in Texas
City zoning rules apply on top of the state cottage food law — home occupation, customer pickup, signage, and employees.
Was this page helpful?
Texas cottage food law — FAQ
Do I need a license or permit to sell homemade food in Texas?
No registration required
What foods can I sell under the Texas cottage food law?
Almost all non-TCS (non-temperature-controlled) foods are allowed, including baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, pickles, dried herbs and spices, roasted coffee, granola, vinegar, acidified foods, fermented vegetable products, dried meats, and any food that is not a time-and-temperature control for safety food. Nonprofits may also operate under the cottage food framework as of SB 541 (2025).
Is there a sales cap for cottage food in Texas?
150000
How good is Texas's cottage food law?
Texas is a Great-tier cottage food state by Crosodo's rating criteria. No or very high sales cap, broad product list, multiple sales channels including retail and online. Most home bakers can run a meaningful operation here.
Keep exploring Texas
Keep exploring Texas
Labels, product checks, county zoning, and local discuss — so one state page becomes a full readiness plan.
Market-day tees from the Crosodo collection — for the craft, not the algorithm.
What do bakers ask about Texas?
What bakers ask about Texas
Seed threads for markets, zoning, and labels — join the channel or ask the directory.
Farmers market process in Texas?
Which markets welcome cottage bakers, what they charge, and label checks on day one.
Good label printers in Texas?
Local print shops or home setups that handle home-kitchen disclaimers cleanly.
Zoning experience in Texas counties?
Home occupation, pickup traffic, signage — what did your planning office actually require?
How I got legal in Texas
Registration portal tips, food handler cert, and the county step nobody publishes.
Texas label wording that passed review
Share real labels (blur personal info) and any county extras beyond the state minimum.
Crosodo tees for Texas bakers
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While you're deep in Texas rules — vintage-varsity tees for booth days and bake nights.
Can I list my bakes in the Crosodo classifieds?
Resources for cottage food and home bakers
Supplies, courses, insurance, farmers markets, kitchen rentals, and local services. To advertise here, visit crosodo.com/advertise. Browse all classifieds.
Ads are paid placements. Crosodo does not endorse listed vendors. Verify all product, service, course, insurance, and legal information independently.
Is this Texas page legal advice?
Cottage food laws are amended every year. This is a starting reference, not legal advice. Verify with Texas Department of State Health Services and your local health department before relying on this data.
Official filing: Texas Department of State Health Services →
How does the Crosodo ladder work here? State vs county rules and pets
Crosodo ladder · not a license · How the ladder works
- 0Bake for friends
Give it away: gifts, potlucks, the office tray.
$0
Taking money? → Step 1
- 1Sell from home
Sell shelf-stable bakes straight to the person who eats them.
Want store shelves? → Step 2
- 2Sell to stores
Sell to shops, cafés and resellers from an inspected kitchen.
Texas
- Selling to stores: check with Texas Department of State Health Services
Want a storefront? → Step 3
- 3Commercial bakery
Bake in a commercial kitchen. Sell from your own shop.
Texas
- Commercial kitchen permit: check with Texas Department of State Health Services
Renew permits every year
- Pets: do I need a door?
Texas · Step 1
Not verified yet
Check with Texas Department of State Health Services.
Texas · Step 2 (home)
Not verified yet
Check with Texas Department of State Health Services.
Pick your county for local rules → Crosodo is a research guide, not a government agency. Not legal advice.