Cottage Food Laws by State
Alabama Cottage Food Laws
Alabama removed its annual cap in 2021. Home food producers can sell at farmers markets, online, retail, and through mail order without a permit.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
No
Venues
3
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Alabama cottage food law.
Baked Goods
Permitted- Cakes and cupcakes
- Cookies and brownies
- Muffins and quick breads
- Yeast breads and rolls
- Fruit pies (cream and custard pies require refrigeration and are not permitted)
- Cake pops and dipped treats
- Donuts and pastries
Candies and Confections
Permitted- Chocolates and fudge
- Hard candies and lollipops
- Toffee and caramel (shelf-stable)
- Cake truffles
Preserved and Dry Goods
Permitted- Jams, jellies, and preserves
- Honey and honeycomb
- Dried herbs and spices
- Roasted nuts and trail mix
- Granola and cereal
- Popcorn and flavored popcorn
- Dried pasta (no egg)
Beverages
Permitted- Coffee (roasted or ground, not brewed)
- Dry tea blends
What You Cannot Sell
These product types are not covered by the Alabama cottage food law and require a commercial kitchen license.
- Meat, poultry, and seafood products
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter)
- Items requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecakes)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Fruit and vegetable juices
- Canned low-acid vegetables
Where You Can Sell
Alabama permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Community events
Direct consumer sales at community events are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No annual revenue cap. Cap removed in 2021.
Permit and Registration
No permit or registration required
No permit or license is required for cottage food operations in Alabama.
What a Compliant Alabama Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Sunflower Home Bakery
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, AL
Ingredients:
Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Corn Starch, Salt, Soybean Oil; Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla; Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Confectioner's Glaze, Carnauba Wax, FD&C Colors; Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Red 40.
Contains:
This food is not inspected by the Alabama Department of Health or a local health department. This product may contain allergens.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Alabama must have a label that includes the following.
| Required field |
|---|
| All 9 FDA major allergens present |
| Complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight |
| Business name |
| Business address |
| Product name |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Alabama.
This food is not inspected by the Alabama Department of Health or a local health department. This product may contain allergens.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your Alabama label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Alabama Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Alabama does not require any permit or license for cottage food producers.
You can take orders online, but all sales must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted venue for Alabama cottage food sellers.
Alabama's cottage food annual cap is $50,000 in gross revenue.
Law reference: Alabama Cottage Food Law (Alabama Code, Section 22-20-5.1) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list from the brands you actually use, and generates a label with the Alabama-required disclosure already included. Start free.