Cottage Food Laws by State
Tennessee Cottage Food Laws
Tennessee's Food Freedom Act (2022) removed the annual cap and licensing requirement. Home producers can now sell at a wide range of venues without registration.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
No
Venues
3
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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
Tennessee permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Roadside stands
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No annual revenue cap. The Tennessee Food Freedom Act 2022 removed the cap and licensing requirement.
Permit and Registration
No permit or registration required
No permit, license, or registration is required under the Tennessee Food Freedom Act.
What a Compliant Tennessee 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
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, TN
(555) 010-0142
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 product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Tennessee 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 |
| Phone number |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Tennessee.
This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your Tennessee label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Tennessee Cottage Food — Common Questions
Yes. Tennessee requires registration with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture before you can sell cottage food. The registration is free and can be completed online.
You can take orders online, but sales must be completed as direct in-person transactions. Carrier shipping is not permitted.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted venue for registered Tennessee cottage food sellers.
You can register online through the TDA website. Registration is free and typically processed quickly. You must register before making any cottage food sales.
Law reference: Tennessee Cottage Food Law (Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-1-216) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
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