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Cottage food laws · AL
Selling homemade food in Alabama
Alabama's Cottage Food Law lets you sell non-perishable homemade foods like baked goods, jams, and candy straight from your home kitchen without a permit or inspection. You just need to label your products correctly and keep sales direct to the customer (in person, at markets, or online with in-state pickup) rather than through stores.
Program
Alabama Cottage Food Law
Registration
No permit, license, or inspection required; producers must follow labeling rules and are encouraged to complete a food safety course
Annual sales cap
No statewide sales cap
Online sales
Allowed (see notes)
You can sell
- Baked goods without cream/custard fillings
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy & chocolate
- Dry mixes & granola
- Roasted nuts & popcorn
- Honey
You can't sell
- Anything requiring refrigeration (potentially hazardous foods)
- Meat & poultry products
- Home-canned low-acid vegetables
- Dairy-based products
Where you can sell
- Direct in-person sales from home
- Farmers markets & festivals
- Roadside stands
Selling online
Online ordering is permitted but delivery or pickup must happen inside Alabama; no shipping across state lines
What your labels must include
- Business name & address
- Common name of the product
- Full ingredient list
- Allergen declaration
- Net weight
- "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected" statement