Cottage Food Laws by State

Louisiana Cottage Food Laws

Louisiana has a two-tier cottage food system. Most foods are capped at $30,000 (raised from $20,000 in 2022). Breads, cakes, cookies, and pies sold direct have no cap. Registration is required.

Annual cap

$30,000 (no cap for breads/cakes/cookies/pies sold direct)

Permit required

Yes

Venues

3

Last updated

2026

What You Can Sell

The following product types are permitted under the Louisiana 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)
Note: Items must be shelf-stable.

Beverages

Permitted
  • Coffee (roasted or ground, not brewed)
  • Dry tea blends
Note: Brewed beverages and juices are not permitted.

What You Cannot Sell

These product types are not covered by the Louisiana 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

Louisiana permits cottage food sales at the following venues.

Direct from your home

Farmers markets

Roadside stands

Annual Sales Cap

$30,000 (no cap for breads/cakes/cookies/pies sold direct)

Two-tier system. Most foods capped at $30,000, raised from $20,000 in 2022. Breads, cakes, cookies, and pies sold direct have no cap.

Permit and Registration

A permit or registration is required

Registration with the Louisiana Department of Health is required before selling cottage food. Contact LDH for registration details.

What a Compliant Louisiana Label Looks Like

Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.

Product

Chocolate Cake Pops

Ingredients

Devil's Food Cake Mix Betty Crocker
Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers Ghirardelli
Rainbow Jimmies Sprinkles Wilton
Red Food Color McCormick

Chocolate Cake Pops

Net Wt: 8 oz (227g)

Sunflower Home Bakery

412 Maple Ave, Springfield, LA

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:

Wheat Milk Soy

This food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility.

Label Requirements

Every cottage food product sold in Louisiana 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
"Not inspected" disclosure statement

Required Label Disclosure

This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Louisiana.

This food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility.

Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.

Generate your Louisiana label in minutes

Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.

Louisiana Cottage Food — Common Questions

Yes. Louisiana requires registration with the Louisiana Department of Health before you can sell cottage food.

Louisiana's annual cap is $20,000 in gross revenue, which is lower than many other states.

Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted venue for registered Louisiana cottage food sellers.

You can accept orders online, but all transactions must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted.

Law reference: Louisiana Cottage Food Law (Louisiana Revised Statutes, Section 40:4.9) · 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 Louisiana-required disclosure already included. Start free.