Michigan first enacted a cottage food law in 2010 (HB 5280). It was amended in 2012 (HB 5130) and 2025 (HB 4122). Producers can sell many types of non-perishable foods directly to consumers at most sales venues, including sales from home, at events, online, in-state shipping, and via third-party delivery. It is very easy to… [read more]
Nevada created its first cottage food law in 2013 (SB 206) and updated it in 2025 (AB 352). Producers can sell many different types of food products directly to consumers from home, at markets & events, and online, and they can ship products or use a third-party delivery service. Producers are limited to $100,000 of… [read more]
UPDATE Since this page was last updated, Boston created an ordinance to allow residential kitchens, so now Boston residents can use the cottage food law. Massachusetts developed its law for “residential kitchens” in 2000, well before cottage food laws became common. Residential kitchens are considered “food establishments” (like their commercial counterparts), so it is harder… [read more]
Washington is one of the most difficult states for starting a cottage food operation. It is very complicated to get a cottage food permit… almost as complex as setting up a commercial food business. And yet, Washington’s cottage food law is fairly limited, only allowing $35,000 of sales per year, prohibiting indirect sales (to restaurants,… [read more]
California passed their first cottage food law (AB 1616 – The California Homemade Food Act) in 2012, and it went into effect on January 1st, 2013. The law was amended in 2013 (AB 1252) and 2021 (AB 1144 & AB 831). California has two classes of cottage food operations (CFOs): Class A & Class B…. [read more]
For many years, Illinois had one of the most restrictive cottage food laws in the nation. Their first cottage food law in 2012 (SB 0840) only allowed cottage food operations to sell certain items at farmers markets. Even though an amendment in 2018 (HB 3063) removed the sales limit and greatly expanded the list of… [read more]