Cottage Food Laws by State
Kentucky Cottage Food Laws
Kentucky has a dual cottage food system. The basic tier allows home sales without a permit up to $60,000. Home-Based Processors pay $50/year for expanded sales rights including online sales.
Annual cap
$60,000
Permit required
No
Venues
4
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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
Kentucky permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Roadside stands
Community events
Direct consumer sales at community events are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
$60,000
Gross annual revenue from all cottage food sales under the Home-Based Processor tier.
Permit and Registration
No permit or registration required
No permit required for basic home sales. Home-Based Processor registration ($50/year) unlocks online and expanded sales.
What a Compliant Kentucky Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Net Wt: 8 oz (227g)
Produced: August 23, 2026
Sunflower Home Bakery
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, KY
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 product is home-produced and processed.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Kentucky 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 |
| Net weight |
| Date of production |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Kentucky.
This product is home-produced and processed.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your Kentucky label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Kentucky Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Kentucky does not require any permit or license for cottage food producers.
You can take orders online, but transactions must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted.
Yes. Farmers markets are a fully permitted venue for Kentucky cottage food sellers.
Kentucky's annual cap is $50,000 in gross revenue.
Law reference: Kentucky Cottage Food Law (Kentucky Revised Statutes, Section 217.015) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
Generate your Kentucky labels in minutes
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list from the brands you actually use, and generates a label with the Kentucky-required disclosure already included. Start free.