Cottage Food Laws by State
North Carolina Cottage Food Laws
North Carolina's Home Processor program allows home producers to sell shelf-stable foods without a formal permit. There is no annual revenue cap. The program operates without a formal cottage food statute.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
No
Venues
4
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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
North Carolina permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Roadside stands
Community events
Direct consumer sales at community events and fairs are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No annual revenue cap under the Home Processor program.
Permit and Registration
No permit or registration required
No permit or license is required for cottage food operations in North Carolina.
What a Compliant North Carolina 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, NC
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
North Carolina Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. North Carolina does not require a permit or license for cottage food producers.
You can take orders online, but all transactions must be completed in person. Carrier shipping is not permitted.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted and popular venue for North Carolina cottage food sellers.
North Carolina's cottage food annual cap is $20,000 in gross revenue. This is lower than many other states, so plan accordingly if you expect higher sales.
Law reference: North Carolina Cottage Food Law (North Carolina General Statutes, Section 106-269.1) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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