Vermont 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
Cottage food operators (under Act 42, 2025 exemption) may sell non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, candy, jams, jellies, dry herbs, trail mix, granola, cereal, mixed nuts, flavored vinegar, popcorn, coffee beans, dry tea, and home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruits with equilibrium pH 4.6 or lower (using NCHFP-approved recipes), as long as gross annual receipts do not exceed $30,000. A separate Home Bakery License is available for larger operations under $10,000 in production.
Registration: Yes. Food handler cert: No.
Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 18 Health, Chapter 085 Food and Lodging Establishments, §4351 License from Department of Health; Cottage Food Operator Exemption under Act 42 (2025)
Verbatim excerpt§ 4351. License from Department of Health (a) A person shall not operate or maintain a food manufacturing facility, retail food establishment, lodging establishment, children's camp, seafood vending facility, or any other place in which food is prepared and served, unless he or she obtains and holds from the Commissioner a license authorizing such operation. [Act 42 (2025) provides a licensing exemption for cottage food operators that: have gross annual receipts of $30,000.00 or less from the sale of cottage food products; produce or package cottage food products solely in the home kitchen of the cottage food operator's private residential dwelling or in a kitchen on their personal property. Cottage food products are defined in rule as food sold by a cottage food operator that does not require refrigeration or time or temperature control for safety. Cottage foods include, but are not limited to: non-potentially hazardous baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, dry herbs, trail mix, granola, cereal, mixed nuts, flavored vinegar, popcorn, coffee beans, dry tea, home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower or a water activity value of 0.85 or less that are made using recipes approved by the National Center for Home Food Preservation or reviewed by a food processing authority for safety. Food made under a license exemption cannot be sold to restaurants or other licensed food establishments.]
Source: healthvermont.gov/environment/food-lodging-program/home-based-food-licenses-and-exemptions →
Vermont Cottage Food Law — Full PDF report
A comprehensive report covering the Vermont statute, every county we've researched, and authoritative source URLs.
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Vermont 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.
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Marketshttps://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/ACTS/ACT042/ACT042%20As%20Enacted.pdf
Vermont's cottage food rules are set by 18 V.S.A. §4351; Act 42 (2025) cottage food operator exemption. 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
- Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 18 Health, Chapter 085 Food and Lodging Establishments, §4351 License from Department of Health; Cottage Food Operator Exemption under Act 42 (2025)
- 30000
- Yes
- No
- Upon-complaint
Allowed products and sales channels
- Cottage food operators (under Act 42, 2025 exemption) may sell non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, candy, jams, jellies, dry herbs, trail mix, granola, cereal, mixed nuts, flavored vinegar, popcorn, coffee beans, dry tea, and home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruits with equilibrium pH 4.6 or lower (using NCHFP-approved recipes), as long as gross annual receipts do not exceed $30,000.
- A separate Home Bakery License is available for larger operations under $10,000 in production.
- TCS (time/temperature control for safety) foods are prohibited under the cottage food exemption, including refrigerated baked goods (quiche, cheesecake), meats, poultry, fish, dairy, cooked plant-based foods, and other foods requiring temperature control.
- Cottage food products cannot be sold to restaurants or other licensed food establishments.
- Food made under a license exemption cannot be sold to restaurants or other licensed food establishments. Sales must be direct to final consumers. Exempt producers must file an annual attestation with the Vermont Department of Health by January 15 each year and complete online food safety training.
Labeling
- Labels must include: name and address of producer, name of food product, ingredients in descending order, net weight/volume, allergen information per federal requirements, and the statement 'Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health' in at least 10-point font in a contrasting color.
- Nutritional labels required only if nutrient content or health claims are made.
Statute excerpt
- § 4351. License from Department of Health (a) A person shall not operate or maintain a food manufacturing facility, retail food establishment, lodging establishment, children's camp, seafood vending facility, or any other place in which food is prepared and served, unless he or she obtains and holds from the Commissioner a license authorizing such operation.
- [Act 42 (2025) provides a licensing exemption for cottage food operators that: have gross annual receipts of $30,000.00 or less from the sale of cottage food products; produce or package cottage food products solely in the home kitchen of the cottage food operator's private residential dwelling or in a kitchen on their personal property. Cottage food products are defined in rule as food sold by a cottage food operator that does not require refrigeration or time or temperature control for safety.
- Cottage foods include, but are not limited to: non-potentially hazardous baked goods, candy, jams and jellies, dry herbs, trail mix, granola, cereal, mixed nuts, flavored vinegar, popcorn, coffee beans, dry tea, home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower or a water activity value of 0.85 or less that are made using recipes approved by the National Center for Home Food Preservation or reviewed by a food processing authority for safety.
- Food made under a license exemption cannot be sold to restaurants or other licensed food establishments.]
Official sources
- State agency cottage food page: https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/food-lodging-program/home-based-food-licenses-and-exemptions
- Statute: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/18/085/04351
Summarized from official Vermont cottage food statute research and agency guidance. Agency rules change — verify on the official site before relying on this information.
Vermont Counties
14 counties tracked. Pick yours for the local zoning + health department links.
View all 14 counties →City zoning rules in Vermont
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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Vermont cottage food law — FAQ
Do I need a license or permit to sell homemade food in Vermont?
Yes — Yes. Food handler certification: No.
What foods can I sell under the Vermont cottage food law?
Cottage food operators (under Act 42, 2025 exemption) may sell non-potentially-hazardous baked goods, candy, jams, jellies, dry herbs, trail mix, granola, cereal, mixed nuts, flavored vinegar, popcorn, coffee beans, dry tea, and home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruits with equilibrium pH 4.6 or lower (using NCHFP-approved recipes), as long as gross annual receipts do not exceed $30,000. A separate Home Bakery License is available for larger operations under $10,000 in production.
Is there a sales cap for cottage food in Vermont?
30000
How good is Vermont's cottage food law?
Vermont 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 Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and your local health department before relying on this data.