Cottage Food Laws
Cottage Food Laws in Arkansas
Learn the cottage food laws in Arkansas — annual sales limits, license and permit requirements, allowed sales channels, and where you can legally sell homemade food.
Arkansas's food freedom law is more permissive than standard cottage food laws — fewer restrictions on product categories, sales channels, and revenue limits. The rules below reflect this expanded framework.
At a Glance
Arkansas Food Freedom Act (SB 248, 2021) is very permissive in many respects — no sales cap, retail sales allowed, interstate sales allowed — but restricts products to non-TCS (shelf-stable) foods only. TCS foods including dairy products, cheesecake, meat, poultry, seafood, cut fresh produce, and anything requiring refrigeration for safety are NOT allowed. Properly acidified pickled vegetables (pH ≤ 4.6 using a state-approved recipe or batch pH testing) are permitted as non-TCS. Do not confuse 'food freedom' with TCS allowance — Arkansas's law is broad in channels and caps, not in product categories.
Where You Can Sell
Arkansas cottage food vendors are permitted to sell through the following channels:
Arkansas Food Freedom Act requires all sales to be direct to 'informed end consumers' — persons who purchase the food for their own personal consumption and do not resell it. Sales to retailers, restaurants, or any entity that would resell your product fall outside the Food Freedom Act's exemption and subject the producer to standard commercial food regulation. True wholesale is not available under this law.
Online Sales & Shipping
Online sales and in-state shipping both allowed under the Food Freedom Act. Interstate shipping is not explicitly prohibited by state law but exposes producers to federal FDA jurisdiction — consult a food attorney before shipping out of state.
License & Permit Requirements
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
Arkansas replaced its original cottage food law with the Food Freedom Act (SB 248) — one of the most permissive in the country. No sales cap, no permit required. Online sales, retail stores, and farmers markets all allowed. Vendors may use a state-issued ID number instead of home address/phone for privacy.
Official Sources
Always verify cottage food laws directly with your state agency — laws change, and we want you selling with confidence.
Information last updated: June 15, 2026. Cottage food laws change frequently — always confirm with your state.
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