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Cottage food laws · CT
Selling homemade food in Connecticut
Connecticut requires a low-cost license, a home-kitchen inspection, and a food safety course before you can sell shelf-stable foods like baked goods and jams, up to $50,000 in gross sales per year. Online orders are fine as long as you deliver or arrange pickup yourself — no shipping or mail order.
Program
Connecticut Residential Kitchen (Cottage Food) Law
Registration
License required from the CT Dept. of Consumer Protection ($50 fee, capped at $100); requires a passing home-kitchen inspection, a ServSafe/food handler training course, and annual renewal (expires Feb 28)
Annual sales cap
$50,000 gross annual sales (Conn. Gen. Stat. §21a-62d; raised from $25,000 by a 2022 law, SB 187)
Online sales
Allowed (see notes)
You can sell
- Baked goods without cream/custard fillings (fruit pies allowed, except pumpkin)
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy, fudge & chocolate-covered items
- Honey & syrups
- Dry mixes, granola & popcorn
- Dried herbs, spices, tea & coffee beans
- Pasta & cereals
You can't sell
- Perishable baked goods & fruit butters
- Acidified/canned foods, pickles, salsas & sauces
- Carbonated drinks, juices & kombucha
- Meat & poultry products
- Dairy-based products
Where you can sell
- Direct in-person sales from home
- Farmers markets & events
- Online orders fulfilled by local delivery or pickup
Selling online
Online ordering is allowed if fulfilled by the operator via local delivery or customer pickup; mail order, shipping, and wholesale/third-party retail sales are not allowed
What your labels must include
- Business name & physical home address
- Ingredient list
- Allergen declaration
- Net weight
- "Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection" statement (min. 10-point type)