Cottage Food Laws
Cottage Food Laws in Tennessee
Learn the cottage food laws in Tennessee — annual sales limits, license and permit requirements, allowed sales channels, and where you can legally sell homemade food.
Tennessee'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
HB 130 (effective July 1, 2025, amending the Tennessee Food Freedom Act HB 813/2022) expanded allowed foods to include poultry and pasteurized dairy in food items. Poultry: must use either the 1,000-bird exemption (9 CFR 381.10(d)) or federally/state-inspected poultry; limited to 75 lbs per transaction. Pasteurized dairy: allowed in food items (quiches, cream soups, dairy-based desserts). Excluded: unpasteurized milk, fish and shellfish, conventional meat/meat by-products. TCS foods sold under this law must be direct-to-consumer; perishable items cannot be shipped.
Where You Can Sell
Tennessee cottage food vendors are permitted to sell through the following channels:
Non-perishable (shelf-stable) products may be sold wholesale to grocery stores, co-ops, specialty food shops, gift shops, and farm stores. Perishable products cannot be sold wholesale and require direct-to-consumer delivery. Sales to restaurants, caterers, or institutional food service (schools, hospitals) are not permitted for any product type. All sales must remain within Tennessee.
Online Sales & Shipping
Online ordering is allowed and Tennessee permits in-state delivery, but the vendor must handle delivery personally — carrier shipping via USPS, UPS, or FedEx is not permitted. All sales must remain within Tennessee.
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
Tennessee has a broad, permissive cottage food law: no sales cap, no permit, no inspection required. Online sales and retail sales are allowed. One of the most vendor-friendly states in the Southeast.
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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We know you'll love it here. If you already have a cottage food business, or ready to start one, come on over to Butter & Sage Market. We're connecting neighbors with their local food makers.
