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 fee or inspection, after submitting a Cottage Food Review Form and your labels to your county health department and completing a food safety course. There's no statewide sales cap. Sales must stay direct to the customer (in person, at markets, or online/by phone with in-state delivery) rather than through stores, and any farmers market sales may also fall under separate Farmers Market Authority rules.
You can sell
- Baked goods without cream/custard fillings
- Jams, jellies & fruit preserves
- Candy & chocolate
- Dried/dehydrated herbs, vegetables & fruits
- Roasted coffee
- Dry baking mixes & granola
- Fermented or preserved vegetables/fruits with a verified safe pH (no alcohol produced)
- Roasted nuts & popcorn
- Honey
You can't sell
- Meat, poultry & fish
- Anything requiring refrigeration (potentially hazardous foods)
- Home-canned low-acid vegetables without pH verification
- Dairy-based products
Where you can sell
- Direct in-person sales from home
- Farmers markets & festivals (also subject to Alabama Farmers Market Authority rules)
- Roadside stands
- Phone and online orders with in-state delivery/pickup
Selling online
Online and phone ordering is permitted, including mail within Alabama and delivery by the producer or an agent, but the receiving customer must be located in Alabama; shipping or selling across state lines is not covered by the exemption
What your labels must include
- Business name & address
- Common name of the product
- Full ingredient list in descending order
- Allergen declaration
- Net weight
- Statement that the food is not inspected by the Health Department
- Minimum 10-point font