Cottage Food Laws by State
New Jersey Cottage Food Laws
New Jersey allows home food producers to sell shelf-stable cottage foods with a Cottage Food Operator Permit. The $50,000 annual cap and requirement for food safety manager certification are key requirements to be aware of.
Annual cap
$50,000
Permit required
Yes
Venues
3
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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
New Jersey 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
$50,000
Gross annual revenue from all cottage food sales.
Permit and Registration
A permit or registration is required
Requires a Cottage Food Operator Permit ($100, 2-year term) and food safety manager certification.
What a Compliant New Jersey 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
Permit #CF-10293
Springfield, NJ
Owner: Jamie Rivera
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 prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in New Jersey 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 |
| Product name |
| Owner name |
| Permit number |
| City name |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in New Jersey.
This food is prepared pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:24-11 in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Department of Health.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your New Jersey label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
New Jersey Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. New Jersey does not require a permit or license for cottage food producers operating under the $50,000 annual cap.
You can take orders online, but transactions must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted and popular venue for New Jersey cottage food sellers.
All cottage food products must include the product name, your name and address, net weight, ingredient list, allergen statement, and the required state disclosure statement.
Law reference: New Jersey Cottage Food Law (New Jersey Statutes Annotated, Section 24:5-20) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
Generate your New Jersey labels in minutes
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list from the brands you actually use, and generates a label with the New Jersey-required disclosure already included. Start free.