Cottage Food Laws by State

New York Cottage Food Laws

New York's cottage food law allows home producers to sell shelf-stable baked goods and other products directly to consumers. The cap has been removed and free registration is required. Note that chocolate products are prohibited.

Annual cap

No cap

Permit required

No

Venues

4

Last updated

2026

What You Can Sell

The following product types are permitted under the New York 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 New York 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 York permits cottage food sales at the following venues.

Direct from your home

Farmers markets

Roadside stands

Craft fairs and festivals

Direct consumer sales at craft fairs are permitted.

Annual Sales Cap

No cap

No annual revenue cap. Free registration with the state is required.

Permit and Registration

No permit or registration required

No permit or license is required under New York's cottage food exemption. Free registration is required.

What a Compliant New York 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, NY

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

Made in a Home Kitchen.

Label Requirements

Every cottage food product sold in New York 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 New York.

Made in a Home Kitchen.

Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.

Generate your New York label in minutes

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

New York Cottage Food — Common Questions

No. New York's cottage food exemption does not require a permit or license as long as you stay under the $50,000 annual sales cap.

You can take orders online, but you must complete the sale in person — either delivering directly or having the customer pick up. Carrier shipping is not permitted under the cottage food exemption.

Yes. Farmers markets are one of the most popular venues for New York cottage food sellers.

Shelf-stable baked goods, candies, jams, dried goods, and similar non-perishable items are permitted. Products requiring refrigeration such as cream-filled pastries or cheesecakes are not allowed.

Law reference: New York Cottage Food Law (New York Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 3-a) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.

Generate your New York labels in minutes

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