Cottage Food Laws by State
Massachusetts Cottage Food Laws
Massachusetts has no standalone cottage food statute. Instead, home bakers and preserve makers get a Cottage Food Operation permit from their local board of health under the state Retail Food Code, 105 CMR 590. The kitchen is inspected, and the permit covers sales made directly to consumers.
Permit
Required
Training
Not required
Home inspection
Yes
Online sales
Allowed
Shipping
Allowed
Wholesale
Not allowed
Verified against official sources on 2026-10-21.
Where You Can Sell in Massachusetts
Direct-to-consumer sales include farmers markets, craft fairs, and orders placed by internet or mail. Selling to a shop or restaurant that resells your product is a different category and needs a Wholesale Food Processor License from the state Food Protection Program. Your town also controls zoning, permit fees, and any added rules.
| Channel | Status |
|---|---|
| From home |
Conditions apply
Must comply with local zoning ordinances and municipal laws. |
| Farmers markets | Allowed |
| Events & festivals | Allowed |
| Online orders | Allowed |
| Wholesale |
Conditions apply
Selling to a retailer or restaurant that resells the food requires a Wholesale Food Processor License from the state Food Protection Program, not a cottage food permit. |
What You Can Sell in Massachusetts
The test is whether the finished food stays safe at room temperature. Baked goods, confectioneries, jams, and jellies fit. Cream-filled pastries, cheesecake, custard, cut produce, tomato or barbecue sauce, pickles, relishes, and dressings do not. Ingredients like milk and eggs are fine when the final product is not a TCS food.
Only non-TCS foods that can be safely held at room temperature, such as baked goods, confectioneries, jams, and jellies.
Allowed with conditions
- Foods made with milk, cream, or eggs — Allowed only if the finished product is not a time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food.
Not allowed
Limits and Requirements
Annual sales cap
- Product must be made only in the kitchen of your primary residence and sold directly to consumers
- Products must be prepackaged with an ingredient label
- Rooms used as living or sleeping quarters may not be used for production
- No infants or small children in the kitchen during preparation, packaging, or handling
- Pets must be kept out of the kitchen during food preparation
- No other domestic activities (family cooking, laundry, entertaining) in the kitchen at the same time
- Private well water must be tested before permitting and at least yearly
Local rules: The board of health in your city or town issues and inspects the permit, and you must follow local zoning and municipal ordinances. Fees and any extra requirements are set locally.
How to Start Selling in Massachusetts
-
1
Check zoning and local rules
Contact your local board of health and zoning office; the permit is issued locally and requirements and fees differ by town.
-
2
Prepare your kitchen
Meet the Retail Food Code standards in 105 CMR 590: handwashing supplies, sanitizing of surfaces and utensils, pest control, and a dishwasher that reaches 150 F after the final rinse and dry cycle if you use one.
-
3
Apply to your board of health
Submit your town's Cottage Food Operation permit application; the board of health inspects the kitchen before permitting.
-
4
Label every product
Prepackage items with an English label showing the required fields.
-
5
Use the wholesale license if you resell through shops
Selling to stores or restaurants needs a state Wholesale Food Processor License instead.
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 |
Massachusetts Labeling Notes
- Label must be printed in English.
- Nutrition labeling is required only if you make a nutrient content claim, health claim, or give other nutritional information.
- No laboratory analysis is needed to produce your ingredient list.
Generate your Massachusetts label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Massachusetts Cottage Food — Common Questions
Selling cottage food directly to consumers requires a Cottage Food Operation permit from the board of health in the city or town where your home kitchen is located.
The limit is in gross sales.
Online sales are allowed. Shipping is allowed.
Not allowed: Cream-filled pastries; Cheesecake; Custard; Cut fruit and vegetables; Tomato and barbecue sauce; Pickled products; Relishes; Salad dressings; Cannabis baked goods.
Resources and Law History
Who to contact
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Food Protection Program
617-983-6712
Agency website2019
DPH updated its guidance on Retail Food Code standards for permitted residential kitchens (April 2019).
Law reference: Massachusetts Cottage Food Law (105 CMR 590.000 (State Sanitary Code Chapter X, Retail Food Code), including 590.010 residential kitchens) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
Generate your Massachusetts labels in minutes
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