Cottage Food Laws by State
Pennsylvania Cottage Food Laws
Pennsylvania's Limited Food Establishment program allows home producers to sell a wide range of foods with registration. There is no revenue cap, but a $35/year registration fee and home inspection are required.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
Yes
Venues
3
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Community events
Direct consumer sales at community events and fairs are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No annual revenue cap under the Limited Food Establishment registration.
Permit and Registration
A permit or registration is required
Requires a Limited Food Establishment registration ($35/year), a business plan, and home inspection.
What a Compliant Pennsylvania 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, PA
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Pennsylvania Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Pennsylvania does not require any permit or license for cottage food producers operating under the $50,000 cap.
You can accept orders online, but transactions must be direct and in-person. Shipping through carriers is not covered by the cottage food exemption.
Yes. Farmers markets are a popular and fully permitted venue for Pennsylvania cottage food sellers.
Yes. All cottage food products must include your name, home address, the product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, and the required state disclosure statement.
Law reference: Pennsylvania Cottage Food Law (Pennsylvania Code, Title 7, Chapter 45) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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