Cottage Food Laws by State
Massachusetts Cottage Food Laws
Massachusetts allows home food producers to sell shelf-stable cottage foods, but a local board of health permit and mandatory home kitchen inspection are required. There is no annual revenue cap.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
Yes
Venues
4
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts 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
No cap
No annual revenue cap. Local board of health permit required.
Permit and Registration
A permit or registration is required
Requires a local board of health permit and mandatory home kitchen inspection. Highly restrictive.
What a Compliant Massachusetts 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)
Sunflower Home Bakery
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, MA
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:
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Massachusetts 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 |
Generate your Massachusetts label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Massachusetts Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Massachusetts does not require a permit or license for cottage food producers operating under the $25,000 annual cap.
You can take orders online, but sales must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted under the cottage food exemption.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted and popular venue for Massachusetts cottage food sellers.
The annual cap is $25,000 in gross revenue. If you exceed this, you would need a standard food processing license.
Law reference: Massachusetts Cottage Food Law (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 94, Section 305D) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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