Cottage food law
Massachusetts cottage food laws, in plain English.
What you can make in your home kitchen in Massachusetts, 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
Massachusetts cottage food vendors are permitted to sell through the following channels:
Online Sales & Shipping
The state counts internet and mail-order sales as direct-to-consumer sales, so they are allowed under a retail residential kitchen permit. Pickup and local delivery are fine. Selling to another state means following that state's rules too.
License & Permit Requirements
Permit type: Retail residential kitchen permit (Cottage Food Operation) from your local board of health
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.
Business & Production Rules
Household members only — only people who live in the home may assist with production.
Important Notes
Massachusetts has no statewide cottage food law. Home bakers get a retail residential kitchen permit (a Cottage Food Operation) from their local board of health under 105 CMR 590, after a kitchen inspection. Fees and paperwork vary by town. No annual sales cap. No required label statement. Foods must be shelf-stable (no time/temperature control needed). Only household members may help.
Official Sources
Always verify cottage food laws directly with your state agency — laws change, and we want you selling with confidence.
Information last updated: November 5, 2026. Cottage food laws change frequently — always confirm with your state.
Ready to sell in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts 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.
