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New Hampshire Homestead Can you legally sell food from home in New Hampshire?

Cottage Food Law

The laws for those with a Homestead License in New Hampshire are much more lenient than a homestead food operation, as they allow operators to sell at any venue with no limitation for how much they can sell.  However, there is a significant application process that will take some time.  Aside from the $225 cost, operators need to submit a lot of paperwork, like ingredient sources, product labels, manufacturing steps, and selling locations.  They also must have their home inspected and maintain additional records during production of their products.

Selling Where can you sell homemade food products?

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Allowed Foods What food products can you sell from home?

Pumpkin butters are not allowed.

Only "non-potentially hazardous" foods are allowed, but certain non-PHFs may not be allowed. Most foods that don't need to be refrigerated (foods without meat, cheese, etc.) are considered non-potentially hazardous. Learn more

Limitations How will your home food business be restricted?

Limitations
There is no sales limit

Business What do you need to do to sell food from home?

Homestead Food License

An annual license is $225.  There are a number of requirements before applying:

  • Test results for certain food items, like non-standard jams and jellies, sweet breads, or other jarred goods.
  • Copies of all product labels.
  • A list of the contact information for all the locations where the products will be sold.
  • A list of the sources for all the ingredients used.
  • A flow chart describing manufacturing steps to make each product.
  • A description of how each product is packaged.
  • A description of the records that are maintained during production of the product.
  • Test results from a private water source or sewage system, if applicable.
Home inspection

Once the application has been turned in, the home will get inspected before a license is given. However, there are 16 counties that allow self-inspections.

Labeling How do you label cottage food products?

Sample Label

Chocolate Chip Cookies

"This product is made in a residential kitchen." (10-point type)


Forrager Cookie Company

123 Chewy Way, Cookietown, NH 73531


Phone: (123) 456-7890


Ingredients: enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (cream, salt), semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract (vanilla bean extract, alcohol, sugar), baking soda, salt (salt, calcium silicate)


Contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy


NET WT 2 lb 4 oz (1.02 kg)


A PO box may not be used as the address for the operation.

Workplace Are there any home kitchen requirements?

There are many kitchen requirements listed in these FAQs.

Resources Where can you find more information about this law?

Law Dates
January 2007
HB 1683
June 2012
HB 1402

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