Cottage food law
New York cottage food laws, in plain English.
What you can make in your home kitchen in New York, where you can sell it, how much you can earn and whether you need a permit. No legalese, just the facts.
Updated for 2026 · Always confirm with your state
At a Glance
Where You Can Sell
New York cottage food vendors are permitted to sell through the following channels:
New York Home Processor Registration allows wholesale to restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and other retail facilities within New York State. All products must be shelf-stable and non-potentially hazardous. Unique restriction: chocolate and all chocolate-covered items are prohibited entirely (New York is the only state with this specific exclusion, due to food safety concerns in the tempering process). No annual sales cap applies. All products must be pre-packaged and properly labeled before delivery.
License & Permit Requirements
Permit type: Home Processor License or Home Bakery Registration
Annual Sales Limits
Acidified & Fermented Foods
Acidified foods include pickles, hot sauces, salsas, fermented vegetables, and other products with a pH at or below 4.6. These are regulated separately in most states.
Important Notes
Requires state registration/license. Kitchen must pass inspection for some permit types. Farmers market and direct sales common.
Official Sources
Always verify cottage food laws directly with your state agency — laws change, and we want you selling with confidence.
Information last updated: October 11, 2026. Cottage food laws change frequently — always confirm with your state.
Ready to sell in New York?
Rules checked. Now open your shop.
A free Butter & Sage shop takes the orders, the payments and the pickup times, so you can stay in the kitchen. Neighbors in New York find you on our map and order ahead.
- A free shop with your own look
- Pre-orders with pickup or delivery times
- Your shop on the local map and the farmers market directory
- Labels with your state’s required statement filled in
More free tools
Free tools for small food businesses.
No sign-up, no catch. Use them as often as you like.
- Bread CalculatorBaker's percentages to batch size, hydration and levain.
- Cake CalculatorGuest count to cake size, or cake size to servings, with a cutting map.
- Market Prep PlannerHow much to bring to market, with a safety buffer.
- Recipe Pricing CalculatorIngredients, labor and margin to a price that pays you.
- Recipe ScalerAny recipe up or down, with smart rounding.
- Cottage Food Label MakerA compliant label for your cottage food products.
- Brand Generator & Social StudioBooth signs, labels and posts that all match.Bloom
Checking another state? All 50 are here.
Every state’s cottage food law, side by side.
