Cottage Food Laws by State
Virginia Cottage Food Laws
Virginia allows home food producers to sell most cottage foods without a cap or permit. Acidified foods (such as pickles) are subject to a $9,000 cap. Online sales are expected to be permitted beginning July 2026.
Annual cap
No cap
Permit required
No
Venues
2
Last updated
2026
What You Can Sell
The following product types are permitted under the Virginia 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 Virginia 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
Virginia permits cottage food sales at the following venues.
Direct from your home
Farmers markets
Direct consumer sales at farmers markets are permitted.
Annual Sales Cap
No cap
No cap for most foods. Acidified foods are capped at $9,000. Online sales coming July 2026.
Permit and Registration
No permit or registration required
No permit or license is required for most cottage food operations in Virginia.
What a Compliant Virginia Label Looks Like
Quickly Cottage builds your ingredient list, detects allergens, and adds the required disclosure automatically.
Product
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Pops
Produced: August 23, 2026
Sunflower Home Bakery
412 Maple Ave, Springfield, VA
(555) 010-0142
hello@sunflowerbakery.com
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:
NOT FOR RESALE – PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION.
Label Requirements
Every cottage food product sold in Virginia 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 |
| Date of production |
| Email address |
| "Not inspected" disclosure statement |
Required Label Disclosure
This exact text must appear on every label you sell in Virginia.
NOT FOR RESALE – PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION.
Quickly Cottage adds this to your label automatically.
Generate your Virginia label in minutes
Ingredient lists, allergens, and the required disclosure — built in automatically.
Virginia Cottage Food — Common Questions
No. Virginia does not require a permit for cottage food sales, but the $3,500 annual cap is one of the lowest in the country.
Virginia's cottage food annual cap is $3,500 in gross revenue — significantly lower than most states. If you plan to grow beyond that, you'll need a standard food processing license.
Yes. Farmers markets are a permitted venue for Virginia cottage food sellers.
You can take orders online, but sales must be completed in person. The $3,500 cap applies to all sales combined.
Law reference: Virginia Home Food Processing Exemption (Virginia Code, Section 3.2-5130) · Last updated 2026 · Always verify requirements with your state's department of agriculture before selling.
Generate your Virginia labels in minutes
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